New knitting pattern: Rosalind sweater

Rosalind sweater

Knit Now magazine has just published Rosalind, my first women’s sweater pattern. This is my winning design for the Knitter of the Year 2016 competition.

Inspired by ancient woodlands

I live in a landlocked county with many ancient woodlands. They are mysterious and magical places, which look and feel different as the year passes. In the autumn you might spot a woodland elf sitting on a branch wearing this feminine sweater.

The Rosalind sweater features an easy to remember leafy lace panel on the front and back.

Rosalind is a seamless sweater that you work from the bottom-up. You work the body in the round to the armholes using decreases then increases to add some waist shaping. Then you divide the stitches for the front and back, each of which you work flat to the neckline. You join the shoulders using a three-needle cast-off. Then you pick up stitches around the armholes and shape the sleeve head using short rows. Finally, you work the rest of the sleeves in the round down to the cuffs.

Squishy yarn

Rosalind is knit in Superfine Alpaca DK from Sublime Yarns. They spin this beautifully soft yarn, in Peru, from 100% superfine alpaca fibre. You can choose from 14 colours: Taylor (460), a deep red, was used for the sweater in the photos. Superfine Alpaca DK comes in 50 g balls, so depending on the size you choose to knit you’ll need between nine to fifteen balls.

Rosalind sweater pattern details

The pattern is written for six bust sizes: S [M: L: XL; 2X; 3X]. The finished sweater chest sizes are 92 [102: 113; 123; 133; 148] cm, so you wear it with approximately 5-11 cm positive ease. The finished length is 56 [57: 57: 57: 58: 58] cm.

You’ll need 3.25 mm | UK 10 | US 3 and 4.0 mm | UK 8| US 6 80 cm circular needles, as well as needles in the same sizes of your preferred type for knitting small circumferences. You’ll also need stitch markers and stitch holders.

The pattern for the Rosalind sweater is published by Knit Now magazine in Issue 79.