Reed

  The second design from Strands of Joy is one of my own favourites.

What: Reed / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 3.75 and 4.0 mm

From: Manos del Uruguay Alpaca Heather, 376 g

Reed is a colourwork sweater with a really stunning yoke. The rest of the sweater has a simple lice pattern. 

The reed pattern on the yoke is a true show stopper. It's worked in three colours, changing the background colour. This means there are couple rounds worked in all three colours but it's well worth the effort.

The sweater has long sleeves that are slightly loose just before the tight cuffs. The hem is cropped and ends at the natural waist.

I've totally fallen in love with the shape of this sweater. It's just so flattering. I like to pair it up with high-waist skirts.

The back of the neck is shaped taller with short rows and since the hem is cropped, I've included instructions for an optional bust dart. Stranded knitting and short rows don't work too well together wo you can work the short rows in the main colour and duplicate stitch the missing lice pattern in place once you've finished the sweater.

This and other yoked sweaters in the book come with a separate yoke chart for the bigger sizes to make sure the pattern placement looks the same with a taller yoke as well.

I designed Reed for Manos del Uruguay's new sport weight alpaca blend. It's unbelievably soft while not being too hairy. And the colours - just look at them!

You can find all the info on the design below to start planning your projects. Some of the photos are by Laine team for the book and some we took 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. 4.5’’ / 12 cm positive ease at bust circumference.

Finished measurements

Bust circumference: 36-37.75-39.5-41.25 [42.75-46.25-48-53.25] 56.5-60-63.5-68.5’’ / 90-94.5-98.5-103 [107-115.5-120-133] 141.5-150-158.5-171.5 cm

Yarn

Manos del Uruguay Alpaca Heather (70% wool, 30 % alpaca, 150 m / 50 g), or other sport weight yarn. Shown in colors H703 Grey (MC), H2222 Honeycomb (CC1) and H2540 Kohl (CC2).

3-3-3-3 [3-3-3-4] 4-4-5-5 skeins (á 100 g) of MC,

1-1-1-1 [1-1-1-1] 2-2-2-2 skeins (á 50 g) of CC1 and

2-2-2-2 [2-2-2-3] 3-3-4-4 skeins (á 50 g) of CC2.

Yardage

MC: 725-780-820-840 [900-940-985-1085] 1210-1255-1390-1505 yrds / 660-715-750-765 [825-860-900-990] 1105-1150-1275-1375 m,

CC1: 115-125-130-130 [140-140-145-155] 205-205-225-235 yrds / 105-115-120-120 [130-130-135-140] 190-190-205-215 m,

CC2: 265-285-300-300 [315-320-330-355] 455-460-500-520 yrds / 245-260-275-275 [290-290-300-325] 415-420-455-480 m.

Needles

US 5 (3.75) and US 6 (4.0 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

21 sts x 28 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in color work, worked in the round on the bigger needles (after blocking).

Other

4 stitch markers, tapestry needle.