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.

Thistle

 Next up is one of my personal favorites, Thistle cardigan.

What: Thistle / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 3.25, 3.5 and 3.75 mm

From: Tukuwool Fingering, 330 g

I'm the type of knitter that gets bored really easily. I can't stand endless amounts of stockinette or garter stitch. And so, I really truly love this cardigan I designed for the book as there's constantly something interesting happening.

Thistle is traditional and stunning, all in one.

This is a boxy cardigan with colorwork all over. It's worked seamlessly top-down. It's got long, close-fitting sleeves and a loose, boxy body without waist shaping. The shoulders are shaped with short rows.

The cardigan is worked in the round and both the front and arm holes are cut open once the body is finished. The cardigan is finished off with a shawl collar.

The cardigan will look a funny shape at the beginning of the project because after shaping the back shoulders, you will pick up stitches for the fronts, shape the front shoulders and then join in the round, casting on steek stitches between the fronts and between the front and back.

The rest of the body is worked in the round. While working the body, you will be increasing stitches at the front edges to shape the V-neck.

Once the body is finished, you will work the shawl collar and then cut the front open. Finally, you will steek the arm holes and pick up stitches to work the sleeves in the round.

Since the cardigan has an all-over colorwork pattern, I recommend taking bigger needles for the sleeves. Many knitters have a tighter gauge when working sleeves in the round and this can be pronounced when working stranded knitting.

The colorwork pattern has a traditional feeling and with three colors, it's quite stunning. Yet, there are no rounds with all three colors, making this a relaxed colorwork project. The exciting part is with all the steeks.

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

Size

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

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

Finished measurements

Bust and waist circumference: 35.25-38.5-41.5 [44.75-48-51.25] 57.5-60.75-64-70.5’’ / 88-96-104 [112-120-128] 144-152-160-176 cm

Yarn

Tukuwool Fingering (100% Finnish wool, 2-ply, 195 m / 50 g), or other fingering weight yarn. Shown in colors Runo (C1), Selja (C2) and Sake (C3).

4-4-4 [5-5-6] 6-7-7-8 skeins of C1, 2-2-3 [3-3-3] 4-4-4-5 skeins of C2 and 1-1-1 [1-1-1] 2-2-2-2 skeins of C3.

Yardage

C1: 700-740-790 [890-1000-1090] 1230-1300-1455-1595 yrds / 640-675-720 [815-915-995] 1120-1190-1330-1455 m,

C2: 390-410-435 [495-555-600] 680-720-805-880 yrds / 355-375-400 [450-505-550] 620-660-735-805 m,

C3: 130-135-145 [165-185-200] 225-240-270-295 yrds / 120-125-135 [150-170-185] 205-220-245-270 m.

Needles

US 3 (3.25 mm), US 4 (3.5 mm) and US 5 (3.75 mm) - 40’’ / 100 cm long circular needles and dpns in the biggest size if you prefer to work the sleeves with them. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the right gauge.

Gauge

20 sts x 28 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in color work worked in the round on US 4 (3.5 mm) needles (after blocking).

Other

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

Flower Power

Next up is a retro inspiser cardigan called Flower Power.

What: Flower Power / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 4.5 mm

From: Aara Maja, 396 g

Flower Power a classic cardigan with a sweet retro-inspired colorwork yoke. It has reminded many Finnish knitters of classic Arabia china.

The cardigan is worked seamlessly top-down. It's worked in the round and steeked, i.e., cut open at the end.

The colorwork on Flower Power is worked with three colors. At the beginning of the yoke, the main color is light grey and at the bottom of the yoke the main color switches to light pink which is then used for the rest of the cardigan.

There are only couple rounds on the yoke where you need to manage all three colors.

The cuffs, hem, neckband and button bands are worked in corrugated ribbing. Since the cardigan is steeked, the button bands are worked just before cutting the front.

The hem is cropped, making this cardigan an ideal pair for dresses and skirts.

The sleeves a a bit of positive ease and the extra stitches are decreased just before the cuff ribbing.

I can never get enough of this old-fashioned romantic vibe. And I especially love that I got to design this cardigan for handdyed Finnish wool.

You can find all the info on the design below. Some of the photos were taken by Laine for the book and some we have 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. 3.75’’ / 10 cm positive ease at bust circumference.

Finished measurements

Bust and waist circumference: 34.75-36.5-39-41.75 [43.5-44.5-48-50.75] 56-58.75-63-67.5’’ / 86.5-91-98-104.5 [109-111-120-126.5] 140-146.5-158-169 cm

Yarn

Aara Maja (100% Finnish wool, 220 m / 100 g), or other DK weight yarn. Shown in colors Ilta (MC), Pisara (CC1) and Kirsikka (CC2).

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

Yardage

MC: 490-505-535-560 [590-665-710-740] 765-810-885-955 yrds / 450-460-490-510 [540-610-650-675] 700-740-810-875 m,

CC1: 185-185-190-215 [225-230-240-255] 275-285-330-360 yrds / 170-170-175-195 [205-210-220-235] 250-260-300-330 m.

CC2: 185-190-190-195 [210-220-235-240] 245-260-285-300 yrds / 170-175-175-180 [190-200-215-220] 225-240-260-275 m.

Needles

US 7 (4.5 mm) - 40’’ / 100 cm long circular needles and dpns if you prefer to work the sleeves with them. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the right gauge.

Gauge

18 sts x 23 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in stockinette stitch and colorwork, worked in the round (after blocking).

Other

6 stitch markers, 6 buttons (1’’ / 2.5 cm diameter), tapestry needle.

Budding

I've been looking forward to releasing this pattern! Last fall, I and bunch of other knitters got to have a sleepover at our LYS and during the night, I bought a sweater quantity of Brooklyn Tweed Peerie. I had been wanting to try it out for the longest time but never got around to it - until now.

What: Budding / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 3.5 mm

From: Brooklyn Tweed Peerie, 180 + 37 + 27 g

I'm usually into really muted low-contrast colors but this yellow was calling my name. I got three different colors because I wanted to try designing a color work sweater where the background color changes after the yoke.

I have a somewhat old-fashioned style. I love 40's fashion. I'm so happy when I manage to design something that fits my oldish style spot on but still feels contemporary enough to wear today. I think Budding nails it.⁠

So my sweater quantity turned into a nifty little joyous cardigan with a round yoke full of flowers. The cardigan has long sleeves and a cropped hem. Budding has positive ease yet a close-fitting hem ribbing ending at the natural waist making it comfortable and stylish at the same time. As this is a cropped design, I added instructions for an optional bust dart.

The cardigan is worked in the round and cut open once finished. I know, I know, I can hear your screams of horror all the way here. Steeking can sound super scary but it's quite easy and the sweater will be quite safe. You just need a non-superwash yarn. Woolly, rustic yarns can be re-enforced with crochet while rounder fibres might need sewing machine seams before cutting. And the trick to steeking is that knitted fabric wants to unravel top-down, not sideways. That's why cutting won't kill your new sweater. The pattern comes with a photo tutorial for steeking so do not be scared. I re-enforced my cardigan with couple machine-sown seams and stitched the raw edge into place onto the wrong side. 

I know that there will always be knitters for whom there's no amount of encouragement that  would make them try out steeking. So Budding includes instructions for a pullover version too. I also asked some of my test knitters to make this as a pullover so you can go through their projects on Ravelry to decide if you want to make yours as a cardigan or a pullover. 

You can find Budding on Ravelry and if you use the code FLOWERS, you will get the pattern with 20% introductory discount.

add to cart

I'm also so happy to be able to offer you another code: you can get Brooklyn Tweed Peerie for your own Budding at a 10% discount from Brooklyn Tweed's online shop with the code 'BuddingCardigan' until February 24th. If you use this link, the discount should be automatically applied.