JoJo

Next design from Strands of Joy is of the two men's sweaters in the book.

What: JoJo / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 4.0 mm

From: Hedgehog Fibres Merino DK, 550 g

I could just say that JoJo is a classic men's cardigan with simple geometric colourwork. But it's so much more.

For this book, I designed for men for the first time. It took some work and had a bit of a learning curve. First, I had to gather a men's measurements table with all the required measurements. Second, I had to learn how to grade men's sweaters as they can need very different amounts of ease at various places compared to women's sweaters. But this one turned out really great.

It was a big deal for me to get Hubby to do the modeling and hence, this cardigan is the sweetest thing. First of all, the colourwork is a match to a women's sweater in the book so these two are basically a knitter's version of matching shell suits. Second, JoJo was not only my nickname when I was younger but it also includes both of our names. Cheesy, as promised.

The cardigan is worked flat, top-down. This means there's stranded knitting on WS rows too but the pattern is simple and only on the waist. The sleeves are worked in the round so no worrying about WS there.

The cardigan has a V-neck and raglan sleeves. One of my favorite details is the garter stitch on the raglan seams.

The buttonband is worked last and bound off with the contrast colour using i-cord bind-off. It gives JoJo a really sleek finishing touch.

You can find all the info below to get started planning for your own JoJos. Some of the pics are by Laine for the book and some we took 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. 2’’ / 5 cm positive ease at chest circumference.

Finished measurements

Chest circumference: 37-38.75-40.5-42 [45.5-47.25-48.75-50.5] 55.5-59-62.25-65.75’’ / 92.5-97-101-105.5 [113.5-118-122-126.5] 139-147.5-156-164 cm

Yarn

Hedgehog Fibres Merino DK (100% SW merino, 200 m / 115 g), or other DK weight yarn. Shown in colors Construct (MC) and Graphite (CC).

5-5-5-5 [6-6-6-6] 7-7-8-8 skeins of MC, 1 skein of CC.

Yardage

MC: 910-935-1010-1050 [1150-1200-1240-1295] 1420-1525-1620-1715 yrds / 830-855-925-960 [1050-1095-1135-1180] 1300-1395-1480-1565 m,

CC: 145-155-160-165 [165-170-175-180] 185-195-205-220 yrds / 135-140-145-150 [150-155-160-165] 170-180-190-200 m.

Needles

US 6 (4.0 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

19 sts x 25 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in stockinette stitch, worked flat (after blocking).

19 sts x 22 rnds = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in color work, worked flat (after blocking).

Other

4 stitch markers, tapestry needle, 6 buttons (0.75’’ / 2 cm diameter).

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.

Maija

Prepare for a bunch of blog posts! During the next weeks, I'll be writing about each and every design in my debut book, Strands of Joy. You can still pre-order the book from my webshop, from Laine or dozens of their stockists around the world, and the physical books will hit the yarn stores on February 19th. All the pattern pages went live on Ravelry today so you can start planning your projects. 

What: Maija / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 4.5 and 5.0 mm

From: Tukuwool Hakamaa DK, 660 g

The first design from the book is a cardigan called Maija. Not only did I draw inspiration for the design from the yarn I designed it for but it also gave the name for the cardigan. Hakamaa sheep farm is owned by a lovely woman called Maija. Did you know that in the Finnish translation of Mary had a little lamb, it's Maija?

The rustic Finnish wool was just begging to be designed into a long cardigan with a traditional feel. The kind of cardigan you can truly wrap yourself in. Maija is worked top-down, flat. That means there's stranded knitting on WS rows too but I kept the colourwork simple just for that reason. There's also colourwork in only some parts of the cardigan.

The cardigan has a dropped shoulderline, meaning it will start with shaping the shoulders with short rows. The back and fronts are worked separately until the underarm where they are joined and the hem is worked in one piece.

The cardigan has waist shaping and the colourwork is placed on the shoulders, waist and hem. Finally, you will pick up stitches for the sleeves and work one final colourwork stripe on the top of the sleeves. 

The buttonbands are worked at the same time with the rest of the cardigan.

This was one the only three samples I didn't have time to make myself so I'm in dept to my lovely test knitter Piia for lending her cardigan for the photoshoot.

You can find all the info on Maija below to start planning your project. Some of the photos are by Laine team for the book and some are our own.

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. 6’’ / 15 cm positive ease at bust circumference.

Finished measurements

Bust circumference: 36-38-40-42 [44-46-48-52] 58-60-64-70’’ / 90-95-100-105 [110-115-120-130] 145-150-160-175 cm

Yarn

Tukuwool Hakamaa DK (100% Finnish wool, 2-ply, 230 m / 100 g), or other DK weight yarn. Shown in colors Harmaa (MC), Musta (CC1) and Valkoinen (CC2).

5-5-5-6 [6-6-7-7] 8-8-9-10 skeins of MC, 1-1-1-1 [1-2-2-2] 2-2-2-2 skeins of CC1 and 1 skein of CC2.

Yardage

MC: 1060-1110-1155-1290 [1330-1370-1515-1600] 1805-1875-2085-2300 yrds / 975-1020-1060-1180 [1220-1260-1390-1470] 1655-1720-1915-2110 m,

CC1: 200-210-215-240 [250-260-285-300] 340-355-390-435 yrds / 185-190-200-225 [230-240-260-275] 315-325-360-400 m,

CC2: 60-65-65-75 [75-75-85-90] 100-105-120-130 yrds / 55-55-60-65 [70-70-80-80] 95-95-105-120 m.

Needles

US 7 (4.5 mm) and US 8 (5.0 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

16 sts x 22 rows = 4x4’’ / 10x10 cm in stockinette stitch and color work, worked flat on the smaller needles (after blocking).

Other

2 stitch markers, scrap yarn, G-6 (4.0 mm) crochet hook, tapestry needle, 6 buttons (1’’ / 2.5 cm diameter).

Sandy Shores

I love it that we have a proper winter here in Finland. And what would be more appropriate for that a warm and cosy beanie?

What: Sandy Shores / Own pattern

How: Circular needles 3.75 mm and 4.0 mm
From: Nature's Luxury Town & Country Cashmere, 75 g

I haven't designed a hat for a while but when I fell in love with these gorgeous Nature's Luxury cashmere fade kits I knew right away that I wanted to make a new beanie. I used the Sandy fade kit for my sample - hence the name for the hat.

Sandy Shores is a sweet hat that starts off with a neat tubular cast-on. It takes a couple setup rows but gives the neatest, round cast-on edge. The pattern comes with a photo tutorial for tubular cast-on so fear not.

The hat is adorned with intricate cables and fun bobbles. And of course, a pompom! My favorite thing is that the pompom is attached with a button so you can easily remove it if you need to wash the hat or aren't feeling pompom-y some day.

In my weekly Tea Time over on Instagram, there have been lots of questions on how to make such a perfect looking pompom. There's a simple trick for that. First, I use a pompom maker. It's easier to get a full pompom with that than using a cardboard cutout. But the perfect fluffiness is achieved with a cool trick: once the pompom is finished, hold it over a tea kettle because the hot steam will make the plies of the yarn open up, giving it the perfect fluff. 

I designed the beanie in collaboration for Nature's Luxury's stunning cashmere yarn and you can find kits over on their web shop. They're offering the pattern with the kit. You can also get Sandy Shores as an individual download on Ravelry, LoveCrafts and PayHip. Use the code SANDY to get 15% discount until the end of this week.

Koru

Let's kick off this new year with a new sweater. May this year be infinitely better than the one before.

What: Koru / Own pattern
How: Circular needles 3.0 and 3.25 mm
From: Handu PukkIlu, 263 g

In the fall, I decided to try out an idea I had been toying with for a while and let you all take part in the design process. I organised a Design-A-long in my IG stories and offered you different shapes and sweater styles, different stitch patterns and option on how to use them. Everyone go to vote for their favorite and I wowed to obey the results.

Our joined efforts resulted in this simple, boxy sweater with delicate lace along the neckline. Finally, everyone got to suggest a name for the design and we ended up with Koru which is Finnish for jewelry or necklace - quite fitting as you won't need a necklace wearing this sweater.

The sweater has long sleeves, a slightly cropped hem and a slit. I fell so hard for the lace that I wanted to use it on top of the sleeves as well.

As a thank you to everyone, the test knit for Koru was open for anyone and everyone willing, and now is the time to release the finished pattern. As always, it comes with sizes XXS-5XL, going up to  72.25'' / 181 cm bust. The recommended ease is approx. 8'' / 20 cm.

To celebrate New Year, you can get the pattern for 15% discount using the code NY2021 all the way to January 8th. The code is valid on Ravelry and PayHip. You can also find the pattern on Lovecrafts.

We took these photos back in autumn on the day I finally chopped my hair after growing it for the past 12 years. I was about time! I love how the lightness and happiness shines through.

Strands of Joy

I've spent this year working on a huge project. Not only did I start designin full time after New Year's but I also signed a publishing contract with Laine at the beginning of January. And right now, as you're reading this, the pre-orders for my debut book have started.

Strands of Joy features 20 versatile colourwork patterns, including sweaters and cardigans as well as an elegant dress, a warming hat and a kid's pullover. The patterns are worked seamlessly from top down. Cast on a mindless two-colour project or let your mind find peace in more complicated knits that require you to stay focused.

Adult sweater and cardigan patterns come in 9–12 sizes and all are graded to fit up to a 62" bust at minimum. The kid's pullover is graded from 6 months to 12 years. And, the book also has one men's pullover and a men's cardigan pattern in it.

Anna Johanna is a knitwear designer from Muurame, Central Finland. She is known for her often-romantic knits with much love for details, textures and colours. Since 2020, this former statistician has been designing full-time. Strands of Joy (Finnish title Onnensäikeitä) is her debut book.

This hardcover book contains: 

• 176 pages
• 20 colourwork knitting patterns (10 sweaters, 7 cardigans, 1 dress, 1 hat, 1 kid's pullover)
• weight: approx. 900 g / 2 lb
• print only, no digital download code available

Printed in Latvia.  

Official release date 19 February, 2021. The pre-orders start today but the book comes from print in February and will be sipped to customers then. I know many were hoping for the book to make it in time for Christmas so all orders from my webshop will receive a pdf card you can slip under the Christmas tree.

You can find a limited batch of the pre-orders on my webshop, You can also get the book over on Laine webshop and lots of their stockists.

Timjami

I've got a new sweater pattern to kick off December.

What: Timjami / Own pattern

How: Circular needle 4.0 mm
From: Tukuwool Fingering + ITO Sensai, 190 + 60 g

I often find inspiration for designing in the yarn itself. That's definitely what happened this time. The Finnish yarn brand, Tukuwool, got two new beautiful green colorways this fall and I fell head over heels for them. This greyish green is called Rohto. What made the colorway especially enticing was the fact that my LYS was full of silk mohairs to pair it up with. I couldn't pick just one so in the end I took three green silk mohairs with me to go with Rohto and started scetching ideas for a sweater.

And so, Timjami came to be. The name is Finnish for Thyme. Timjami is a relaxed, loose sweater worked seamlessly top-down. The design has long raglan sleeves with cute little lace and bobble pattern worked along the raglan seams. The sweater has a  V-neck and a cropped hem with no waist shaping. The sides of the sweater have a bit of twisted ribbing, as do the hem, cuffs and neckband.

The sweater is worked with two yarns, holding the fingering weight main color yarn together with one of the lace weight contrast colour yarns and fading the contrast colour. I worked a couple stripes at the colour change to get a bit of a fade going on but this sweater would work well with clear colour blocks as well. I used three different colours of silk mohair but you can use as many as you like.

I finished my sample in the late summer and I've used it A LOT. Timjami is a very versitile sweater: it goes equally well with jeans and skirts. The best sweaters are the kind that you can pull over any clothes to keep you warm.

The pattern comes with sizes XXS-5XL. You can find Timjami on Ravelry, PayHip and Lovecrafts.

I'm taking part in a Finnish online craft fair this weekend and hence, today on Friday, you can get Timjami and all my pullover patterns for -15% with the code PUSEROPERJANTAI.

On Saturday, use the code LANGANJUOKSU to get 20% discount on all my colourwork designs and on Sunday, the code LANGANKIERTO gets you 15% discount on all my lace designs.