Taimi

Last but not least is a kid's sweater called Taimi.

What: Taimi / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 3.75 mm

From: John Arbon Textiles Yarnadelic, 216 g

Taimi is a simple kid's sweater with adorable leaf colorwrok on the yoke. The sweater has long sleeves and little leaves on the cuffs just before the ribbing.

You don't need to look twice to realize this is a kid's version of the Lehto pullover. You can use these two pattern to make cute matching mini-me sets - and you could make Lehto for dad too as the design is very unisex.

Taimi is graded from 6 months all the way to 12 years. The smaller sizes are every 6 months and the bigger ones every two year.

This is my very first kid's design and grading it was a similar learning process as the men's sweaters in the book. The biggest challenge was to find all the measurements I needed. I had to combine lots of different size tables to get everything and then based on test knitters' feedback, I adjusted those further. It was a bit of a challenge but now it's all done and all the sizes should fit very nicely. I also really like that you can make this for a boy or a girl, it would suit either.

The book sample is size 6YO photographed on a 6YO.

The whole book project suddenly became very real when one night, I opened my own copy and casted on for a wee Taimi for my baby due in autumn, using my own pattern from my own book. There might have been a tear or two in the corner of my eye.

You can find all the info on the design below. Most of the photos were taken by Laine for the book and the last ones showing a wee sweater in size 6MO, I took myself.

Size

6MO-12MO-18MO [2YO-4YO-6YO] 8YO-10YO-12YO

Finished measurements

Chest and waist circumference: 18-20-21.25 [25-26.75-28.25] 30-32.25-34.25’’ / 45-50-53.5 [62.5-66.5-71] 75-81-86 cm

Yarn

John Arbon Textiles Yarnadelic (100% Falkland’s corridale, 333 m / 100 g), or other sport weight yarn. Shown in colors The Beautiful Ones (MC) and Harmonium (CC).

1-1-1 [2-2-2] 3-3-3 skeins of MC and 1 skein of CC.

Yardage

MC: 260-315-360 [430-580-700] 795-865-945 yrds / 240-285-330 [390-530-640] 725-790-860 m,

CC: 40-50-55 [65-80-90] 145-160-175 yrds / 35-45-50 [60-70-80] 130-145-160 m.

Needles

US 5 (3.75 mm) – 16/24/32’’ / 40/60/80 cm long circular needle (the optimal length depends on the size you’re working) and dpns if you prefer to work the sleeves with them. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the right gauge.

Gauge

24 sts x 29 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in stockinette stitch and color work, worked in the round (after blocking).

Other

4 stitch markers, tapestry needle.

Weightless

Only two more designs to share with you! First up, Weightless.

What: Weightless / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 3.25 mm

From: Ocean by the Sea Quill + Frida Fuchs Mini Füchse Sock, 228 + 34 g

Weightless is a sweater that is worked top-down, seamlessly. It has a loose round yoke with a delicate feather pattern.

The sweater has long sleeves and the body is straight with no waist shaping.

The neckline, cuffs and hem are worked in garter stitch.

This was one of the last designs I worked for Strands of Joy. I wanted it to be light and delicate while keeping it really simple.

While the finished yoke can look complicated it's worked with just two colors and there are no long floats, making this ideal for a beginner colorwork knitter. And keep in mind, you don't have to work the whole thing at once, one round at a time is enough.

The sweater has no shaping after the yoke (expect for sleeve decreases) which also makes this really beginner-friendly.

Weightless is loose and easy to wear. The garter stitch edges give it a little something extra.

The yarn I chose for this design is light fingering. It makes this a light-weight sweater and really comfortable to wear. The main color is lovely yarn that's all plant-dyed.

You can find all the info on the design below. Some of the photos were taken by Laine for the book and some we snapped ourselves. I think it's great to show the same sample on different size people. This and all the other women's garments in the book were worked in my size, M2.

Size

XXS-XS-S-M1 [M2-L1-L2-XL] 2XL-3XL-4XL-5XL

This sweater is meant to be worn with positive ease. Choose a size with approx. 6’’ / 15 cm positive ease at bust circumference.

Finished measurements

Bust, waist and hip circumference: 36.5-38.75-40.5-42.75 [45.25-46.75-49.75-52.5] 57.75-60-64.5-69.75’’ / 91.5-97-101.5-107 [113-117-124.5-131.5] 144.5-150-161.5-174.5 cm

Yarn

Ocean by the Sea Quill (100% Falkland, 495 m / 100 g) and Frida Fuchs Mini Füchse Sock (75% BFL, 25% nylon, 85 m / 20 g), or other light fingering weight yarn. Shown in colors Pearla (MC) and Schiefer (CC).

2-3-3-3 [3-3-3-3] 4-4-4-5 skeins of MC and 2-2-2-2 [3-3-3-3] 3-4-4-5 mini skeins of CC.

Yardage

MC: 1060-1135-1200-1260 [1355-1420-1480-1605] 1790-1895-2090-2300 yrds / 970-1035-1100-1150 [1240-1295-1350-1465] 1635-1735-1910-2105 m,

CC: 145-155-165-180 [190-205-205-230] 270-290-320-370 yrds / 130-140-150-165 [175-190-190-210] 250-265-295-340 m.

Needles

US 2½ (3.0 mm) and US 3 (3.25 mm) - 40’’ / 100 cm long circular needles and dpns in the larger size if you prefer to work the sleeves with them. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the right gauge.

Gauge

28 sts x 35 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in stockinette stitch, worked in the round on the bigger needle (after blocking).

Other

4 stitch markers, tapestry needle.

Woodland

Finally, we get to the crown jewl of the book Woodland.

What: Woodland / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 3.0 and 3.25 mm

From: G-uld New Zealandsk Lammeull, 298 g

Woodland is a light-weight cardigan with an echanted forest on the hem.

This oversized cardigan is worked in the round, seamlessly and top-down. It has long sleeves and a boxy hem with no waist shaping.

The shoulders are shaped with short rows and since the hem is cropped, the pattern comes with instructions for an optional bust dart.

As said, the cardigan is worked in the round and steeked, i.e., cut open once finished. You can easily modify this into a pullover by omitting the steek stitches. I also recommend to move the beginning of the chart to the side of pullover.

I love all the little details in this design. My favorite thing is the buttonbands which are worked as steek sandwiches. Usually, steeking happens such that you first pick up and work the button bands, then reinforce the steek either with crochet or a sewing machine and then, cut the cardigan open. Finally, you would stitch the raw edges into place on the wrong side.

With a steek sandwich, the raw edges are completely hidden. You will first reinforce the steek, cut the cardigan open, and then pick up stitches from both RS and WS and work the sandwich that will hide the raw edge inside it. In Woodland, the button bands and the neckline are finished off with an i-cord bind-off which is also used to work the buttonholes.

The button bands and bind off are worked with the contrast color which really brightens up the cardigan.

This is a fun project because the best part, which is obviously the colorwork, happens at the very end. The hem has a sweet little forest on it, complete with trees and little woodland creatures. There are deer, a bear, birds, a bunny and a squirrel. Where the colorwork starts depends a bit on the size you're working. The design comes with a really wide colorwork chart and you can find it in a separate pocket at the back of the book.

You can find all the info on the design below and start planning on your own enchanted forest. Some of the photos were taken by Laine for the book and some we snapped ourselves.

Size

XXS-XS-S-M1 [M2-L1-L2-XL] 2XL-3XL-4XL-5XL

This cardigan is meant to be worn with positive ease. Choose a size with approx. 8’’ / 20 cm positive ease at bust circumference.

Finished measurements

Bust and waist circumference: 38.75-40.75-42.75-45.25 [46.75-48.75-51.25-54.75] 59.25-62-66-71.25’’ / 96.5-101.5-106.5-113.5 [116.5-121.5-128.5-136.5] 148.5-155-165-178.5 cm

Yarn

G-uld New Zealandsk Lammeuld (100% non-superwash wool, 2-ply, 450 m / 100 g), or other light fingering weight yarn. Shown in colors Ufarvet - NZLg2 (MC) and Lyng (CC).

2-2-2-3 [3-3-3-3] 3-4-4-4 skeins of MC, 1-1-1-1 [1-1-1-1] 1-1-2-2 skeins of CC.

Yardage

MC: 840-900-960-1005 [1080-1130-1200-1310] 1455-1570-1770-1910 yrds / 765-820-880-920 [990-1035-1095-1195] 1330-1435-1620-1750 m,

CC: 265-280-290-310 [320-335-350-375] 405-425-455-490 yrds / 275-285-300-320 [330-345-360-385] 420-440-470-505 m.

Needles

US 2½ (3.0 mm) and US 3 (3.25 mm) - 40’’ / 100 cm long circular needles and dpns in the smaller size if you prefer to work the sleeves with them. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the right gauge.

Gauge

24 sts x 32 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in colorwork, worked in the round on the bigger needles (after blocking).

24 sts x 35 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in stockinette stitch worked in the round on the smaller needles (after blocking).

Other

4 stitch markers, scrap yarn, E-4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook, tapestry needle, 7-8 buttons (0.5’’ / 1.4 cm diameter), 2 spare circular needles in the smaller size, or smaller than that.

Hearts on a String

Next up, Hearts on a String.

What: Hearts on a String / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 3.5 and 3.75 mm

From: nurja merino sock 3ply, 417 g

Hearts on a String is a relaxed boxy sweater with a strunning heart damask pattern on the hem.

The sweater is worked seamlessly top-down. It has long sleeves and a very slight A-line shape. 

The shoulders are shaped with short rows and the pattern comes with instructions for an optional bust dart. If you have a bigger bust, the bust dart will create room for it, making sure the hem won't be rising at the front.

This sweater is very simple otherwise but the colorwork pattern on the hem offers some challenge for colorwork lovers. The pattern has quite a few rounds worked with all three colors, which demands concentration. It is, of course, well worth the effort as the damask pattern is what makes this sweater so beautiful.

Otherwise, this is a fairly quick sweater to work as it's designed for sport weight yarn. And what a yarn! This sweater was one the three samples that I didn't have time to make myself so I only got to try it at the photoshoot. And once I did, I fell head over heels for it.

Not only was the design as gorgeous as I had hoped but the yarn was unbelievably soft. Once you put it on you'll never want to take it off. I'm very much looking forward to the day the samples return from the trunk show so that I can wrap myself in this sweater for the rest of my life.

You can find all the info on the design below. Some of the photos were taken by Laine for the book and some we snapped ourselves.

Size

XS-S-M [L-XL-2XL] 3XL-4XL-5XL

This sweater is meant to be worn with positive ease. Choose a size with approx. 8’’ / 20 cm positive ease at bust circumference.

Finished measurements

Bust circumference: 39-42.5-46.5 [51.5-54.25-59.75] 62.5-66-71’’ / 97.5-106-116.5 [128.5-135.5-149.5] 156.5-165-177.5 cm

Yarn

Nurja Merino Sock 3ply (80% SW merino, 20% nylon, high twist, 300 m / 100 g), or other sport weight yarn. Shown in colors Afrikan tähti (MC), Jet (CC1) and Rubelliitti (CC2).

3-3-3 [4-4-4] 4-5-5 skeins of MC, 1-1-1 [1-1-2] 2-2-2 skeins of CC1 and 1 skein of CC2.

Yardage

MC: 705-800-930 [1010-1085-1205] 1310-1470-1615 yrds / 650-730-850 [925-995-1105] 1200-1345-1480 m,

CC1: 250-265-280 [290-305-350] 365-395-420 yrds / 230-240-255 [265-280-320] 335-360-385 m,

CC2: 130-140-155 [170-180-200] 205-220-240 yrds / 120-130-145 [155-165-180] 190-205-220 m.

Needles

US 4 (3.5 mm) and US 5 (3.75 mm) - 40’’ / 100 cm long circular needles and dpns in the smaller size if you prefer to work the sleeves with them. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the right gauge.

Gauge

24 sts x 30 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in colorwork, worked in the round on the bigger needles (after blocking).

23 sts x 33 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in stockinette stitch worked in the round on the smaller needles (after blocking).

Other

4 stitch markers, scrap yarn, E-4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook, tapestry needle.

Calm

The book isn't just about cardigans and pullovers as next up, we have a dress called Calm.

What: Calm / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 2.75 and 3.0 mm

From: Aara Liina, 314 g

Calm is a relaxed and chic dress that gets its name from the lotus flowers adorning the yoke and hem.

The dress is worked seamlessly top-down. It has a round yoke and contrary to many other colorwork yokes out there, here the colorwork is a narrow stripe going round the yoke.

The lotus flowers of the yoke are repeated on the hem, after which the colors change places and the rest of the hem is worked with the dark contrast color.

The dress has 3/4 length sleeves and waist shaping. The waist decreases are worked on the sides from the underarm to the waist and the hip increases are worked evenly around the hem.

I chose Aara Liina for this design which is a lovely blend of alpaca, silk and linen. The linen especially makes this a wonderfully light summer dress.

You can find all the info on the design below. Some of the photos were taken by Laine for the book and some we snapped ourselves at one of my favorite swamps, Tunturiaapa at Pyhä fell.

Size

XXS-XS-S-M1 [M2-L1-L2-XL] 2XL-3XL-4XL-5XL

This dress is meant to be worn with positive ease. Choose a size with approx. 3.5’’ / 9 cm positive ease at bust circumference.

Finished measurements

Bust circumference: 34.25-35.75-37.75-40.75 [42.25-43.75-47-49.75] 54.25-57.75-61.5-68.25’’ / 85.5-89-94.5-102 [105.5-109-117.5-124.5] 135.5-144.5-153.5-171 cm

Yarn

Aara Liina (50% alpaca, 25% linen, 25% silk, 400 m / 100 g), or other fingering weight yarn. Shown in colors Koru (MC) and Jalo (CC).

3-3-3-3 [4-4-4-4] 4-5-5-6 skeins of MC and 1 skein of CC.

Yardage

MC: 1020-1080-1185-1250 [1320-1400-1490-1570] 1740-1825-1950-2240 yds / 935-990-1085-1150 [1210-1285-1365-1440] 1595-1675-1785-2055 m,

CC: 235-250-270-280 [290-300-320-335] 360-375-385-435 yds / 215-230-245-260 [265-275-295-305] 330-345-355-395 m.

Needles

US 2 (2.75 mm) and US 2½ (3.0 mm) - 40’’ / 100 cm long circular needles and dpns in the bigger size if you prefer to work the sleeves with them. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the right gauge.

Gauge

22 sts x 34 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in stockinette stitch and color work worked in the round on the bigger needles (after blocking).

Other

4 stitch markers, tapestry needle.

Juxtaposition

And now, we get to talk about a sweater that make my statistician-code monkey heart sing.

What: Juxtaposition / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 3.25 mm

From: Handu Merinosukkis, 340 g

Juxtaposition is an adorable, cropped sweater with geometric colorwork. The pullover is worked seamlessly top-down. It has a round yoke and an all-over colorwork pattern.

The sweater has long sleeves and no waist shaping.

Because of the colorwork, there's no bust dart but you can easily lengthen the body of the sweater. The back of the neck is shaped with short rows before starting stranded knitting.

You can use a separate main color and contrast color but the look of the sample was achieved using a monochromatic gradient set, starting main color from the light end and contrast color from the dark end.

There were some rounds on the hem and top of the sleeves where the gradient colors met and I couldn't really tell them apart but a yarn guide ring helped me out a lot. The hazzle was also definitely worth the trouble as the gradient effect is amazing. I can't get enough of how beautifully the main color glides from the white neckline to the black cuffs and the contrast color from black to white.

Now, how is this all related to me being a statistician and loving coding? I've often spoke in interviews of how I enjoy when I'm able to use my university skills in designing. You know, knitwear design is mostly about math with all the grading.

Colorwork yokes are a beast of their own with interesting equations to solve. And this sweater has double the trouble with the all-over colorwork.

It took a good while before I figured out how to solve how many stitches are needed to cast on in each size for the underarms so that the pattern continues un-broken once the sleeves are separated. And since I'm (not bad but) the worse coder of the two of us, I quickly shouted out to Hubby to come and code the equation as efficiently as possible.

Oh, how I love it when the problems are solved and everything is coded. After that, all I need to do is to feed the gauge to our code, press enter and it prints out a perfect, error-free pattern in 12 sizes. This is the stuff I enjoy.

Luckily for you alla, we've already solved all the math problems and you can just relax and enjoy knitting.

You can find all the info on the design below. Some of the photos were taken by Laine for the book and some we snapped ourselves.

Size

XXS-XS-S-M1 [M2-L1-L2-XL] 2XL-3XL-4XL-5XL

This sweater is meant to be worn with positive ease. Choose a size with approx. 2.25’’ / 6 cm positive ease at bust circumference.

Finished measurements

Bust and waist circumference: 32-34.5-37-39.5 [41.75-44.25-46.75-49.25] 54.25-56.5-61.5-66.5’’ / 80-86-92.5-98.5 [104.5-111-117-123] 135.5-141.5-154-166 cm

Yarn

Handu Merinosukkis (75% merino, 25% nylon, 210 m / 50 g), or other fingering weight yarn. Shown in a black and white gradient set, starting MC from the light end and CC from the dark end.

4-4-4-4 [5-5-5-5] 6-6-7-8 skeins of MC and 3-3-4-4 [4-4-4-5] 5-5-6-6 skeins of CC.

Yardage

MC: 715-795-835-890 [935-1020-1080-1135] 1255-1360-1505-1645 yrds / 655-725-760-815 [855-930-985-1035] 1145-1245-1370-1500 m,

CC: 600-665-700-745 [785-855-905-950] 1050-1140-1260-1375 yrds / 545-610-635-680 [715-780-825-865] 960-1040-1150-1255 m.

Needles

US 3 (3.25 mm) - 40’’ / 100 cm long circular needle and dpns if you prefer to work the sleeves with them. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the right gauge.

Gauge

26 sts x 31 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in color work, worked in the round (after blocking).

Other

2 stitch markers, tapestry needle.