Little Woodland

Back when I started working on Strands of Joy book, one of my first ideas was for Woodland cardigan that has this amazing enchanted forest on the hem. Many thought at first that it was a kid's design but no. I wanted it all for myself but now, I've gone and done a kiddo version as well.

What: Little Woodland / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 3.5 and 3.75 mm

From: nurja merino sock 3ply, 116 g

It was fun to do a new version of an old pattern. For kids, I chose a softer yarn that can be machine washed - hence the superwash treatment. I also turned the cardigan into a pullover because buttons can be tricky with children that don't want to stay put.

The pattern comes with sizes from 6MO to 12YO. The hem pattern features the same trees and animals as in the adult version but for this pullover, I fitted the patterns in every size such that it goes around the sweater unbroken.

The neckband worked with the contrast colour is a fun little detail. The neckband stays stretchy enough with using tubular bind-off.

I made my little sample in the size 18MO and one skein of MC was plenty enough for that.

Gladiolus

I know, I know, it's yet another colorwork yoke but it's just so darn cute.

What: Gladiolus / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 3.75 mm

From: John Arbon Textiles Alpaca Supreme

A while back, I was contacted by John Arbon Textiles on whether I might be interested to design something in their new sport weight Alpaca Supreme base. And as you can see, I very much was. I fell in love with the lovely colorways and was instantly inspired to work a three-color sweater where the background color changes at the bottom of the yoke.

Gladiolus was named after a flower as the yoke is adorned with adorable flower petal pattern. It starts out with two contrast colors and the background color changes into the main color at the end of the colorwork pattern. The best part is that this beautiful effect doesn't require a single three-color round so it's all easy knitting.

I love combining colorwork with corrugated ribbing. It gives a sweater a truly neat finishing touch. The cuffs of the sweater have one petal motif on them before moving onto the corrugated ribbing. As always, the design is worked top-down so you'll get to start with the best part.

Gladiolus has a straight body with no waist shaping but the pattern does come with instructions for an optional bust dart which I recommend to work in case you have a fuller bust. This shaping makes sure the front of the sweater doesn't rise higher than the back.

You can use the code FLWRS to get a 15% introductory discount on Gladiolus until November 14th. The code works on annajohannadesigns.com, Ravelry and PayHip.

And that's not all as the lovely folks over at John Arbon Textiles are offering a 10% discount on Alpaca Supreme with the code GLADIOLUS. This code is valid through November 13th.

Höyhen

If my inspiration at the moment is flying somewhere in the cable skies of next winter, last autumn I was still all about stranded knitting. When designing for a magazine, the path from an idea to the printed magazine is a long one so this sweater that was just published in the Finnish craft magazine, Taito, was on my needles last autumn.

What: Höyhen / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 3.5 mm

From: Kettu Yarns Highland Wool + Silk Mohair, 88 + 50 g

It's always fun to do designs for magazines as they usually offer a nice mood board for inspiration. The theme for this issue of Taito was birds. I was very much in the stranded knitting zone and immediately came up with this idea of a round yoke covered in feathers. (Höyhen means feather in Finnish.)

The pullover is worked with wool but it's a cropped design with these teeny tiny cuffs for sleeves so it's a surprisingly light-weight sweater - perfect layering piece over a summer dress. 

In addition to the feather pattern on the yoke, the sweater has corrugated ribbing on the neckline, cuffs and hem, and a simple lice pattern on the body. This design uses short rows to shape the back of the neck and bust dart so it's easiest to duplicate stitch the lice pattern over those rows. Of course, you could always work the body in just the main color - which is what some of my test knitters did.

One especially fun aspect of this design were the yarns I chose. I used a lovely fingering weight Kettu Yarns Highland wool for the main color but then had a lace weight mohair silk for the contrast. That one, I held double to keep the same gauge. The contrast color mohair silk gives the design a beautiful fluffy surface.

At the moment, the pattern is available in the Finnish craft magazine, Taito. Once the rights revert back to me in autumn, I'll offer the pattern also in English over on Ravelry, PayHip and Lovecrafts. The last three photos are courtesy of Taito magazine.

Oras

If you thought I had enough of colorwork as Strands of Joy was published you were wrong.

What: Oras / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 3.0 and 3.25 mm

From: Wetterhoff Sivilla, 226 g

Stranded knitting is the type of thing that once you're hooked, you're hooked for good. So there will be plenty of new colorwork designs coming up right now and in the future.

At the end of summer, I finally got to visit Wetterhoff house in Hämeenlinna and I promised to design something for their lovely wool silk blend, Sivilla. Let me present, Oras.

This is the cutest little sweater worked seamlessly top down, as always. The design has a round yoke, close-fitting sleeves and a cropped hem with no waist shaping - my favorite kind of sweater.

Oras is adorned with sweet little sprouts and flowers all over. The sweater is worked in two colors and since it's all-over colorwork with no long floats, I'd say this is pretty beginner friendly when it comes to stranded knitting. The all-over colorwork makes it easy to keep gauge and I find this to be a relaxing knit.

I made my sample in Sivilla with two colors but you can check out my wonderful test knitters on Instagram as they've worked some stunning multi-color versions too.

The pattern comes with sizes XS-5XL with finished bust circumference of 34.75-66.75''. You can find the pattern on all my platforms: Ravelry, PayHip and Lovecrafts. On Rav and PayHip, you can use the code SPRINGTIME to get 15% discount until the end of the week. 

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.