Tiny bowknots flavor the yoke of this topdown circular sweater, bringing a subtle contrast to the smooth stockinette body and sleeves. Ribbed hem and sleeve cuffs are worked on smaller needles, creating a slight blouson effect; alternate shaping instructions are also provided to substitute traditional tapered sleeves instead. Named for the “water of life”, a Scandinavian distilled spirit, the soft color and gentle halo result from using a strand of silken mohair laceweight along with a lofty wool & silk dk yarn.
Construction: Akvavit is worked seamlessly from the top down using round yoke construction, with a simple texture on the yoke and a plain stockinette body and unadorned neck. The hem and cuffs are worked in K2P2 rib on smaller needles to create a slight blouson shape to the body and sleeves. Stitches are cast on in the round at the neckline, the back neck is shaped with a few short rows, then the yoke is worked to the bottom of the armhole. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the lower body is worked without shaping to the hem. Full length roomy sleeves are then continued to the cuffs; alternate instructions are given for traditional tapered fit sleeves.
Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, backwards loop CO, seamless round yoke construction, knit/purl, short rows, increasing/decreasing. Pattern instructions are fully written, with a link to my short row tutorials.
Size: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64)” bust; sample shown in third size worn with 5” of positive ease.
Yarn: Miss Babs Hand Dyed Yarn Killington (85% Polwarth wool, 15% Tussah silk; 700 yards/640m/240g), shown in Provence; 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins; held together with Miss Babs Moonglow (72% Mohair goat, 28% silk; 435 yards/398m/50g), shown in Quicksilver; 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) skeins, or approximately 900 (1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700) yards each of DK weight yarn and laceweight mohair/silk yarn. OR approximately 900 (1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700) yards of light worsted/heavy DK weight yarn held singly.
Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 16” circular needle or dpns, and 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; US 4 (3.5mm) 16” and 32” circular needle for hem and cuffs; Stitch markers (2); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.
Gauge: 18 st and 22 rounds/4” in stockinette stitch, after blocking.
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