During the opening battle in The Fellowship of the Ring, Elven armor was designed to reflect the Elvish people at that point in their history. A very old race, the battle in Dagorlad between Men and Elves against Sauron and the Orcs took place in the springtime of their years. Organic-looking armor inspired by young saplings made with biological materials protected the Elves from the crude weapons of their enemies, while allowing them to move freely and swiftly during the crusade.

This cropped, semifitted pullover is inspired by the layered wrappings on the armor of the Noldorin Elves. The base sweater and sleeves are worked from the bottom up in the round, then joined for the yoke. Stitches from the base sweater are picked up and knit as overlapping knitted strips to mimic the crisscross wrappings. Although they are unlikely to turn aside the point of an arrow or the edge of a sword, they are a striking accent and add a pleasant weight to the body and cuffs.

For video tutorials on picking up stitches for the layered wrappings, and working the wrappings, see the videos labeled “Elven Armor Pullover” on the designer’s YouTube channel.

See the designer’s blog post with instructional photos for working the layered strips.

Approx yardage per size: 1290 (1400, 1520, 1650) (1790, 1910, 2050) (2170, 2270, 2380) yd / 1185 (1285, 1400, 1515) (1640, 1750, 1880) (1990, 2080, 2185) m.

Approx length from underarm to hem at sides and back: 8.25” / 21 cm

Approx circumference at waist/hem: 29 (31.75, 35.25, 38) (41, 43.75, 47.25) (50, 52.25, 55)“ / 73.5 (80.5, 90.5, 97) (104, 11, 120) (127, 132.5, 140) cm

Approx armhole depth: 8.25 (8.5, 8.75, 9) (9.25, 9.5, 9.75) (10.25, 10.5, 10.75)“ / 21 (21.5, 22, 22.5) (23.5, 24.5, 25) (26, 26.5, 27) cm

The recommmended ease is 0-3” / 0-7.5 cm. The models (both elven and mannequin) have a 34” / 86 cm chest and are wearing Size 2 (garment chest measurement 36” / 91.5 cm).

ERRATA:
P. 28: ID+R+N Row should read as follows: K1, ssk, work est patt to 3 sts before raglan m, ssk, k1, sm RF, k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, work est patt to 1 st before Center m, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L, work est patt to 7 sts before raglan m, ssk, k2, ssk, k1, sm RSlv, k4, k2tog, work est patt to 6 sts before raglan m, ssk, k4, sm B, K1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, work est patt to 1 st before Center m, M1R, k1, sm, k1, M1L, work est patt to 7 sts before raglan m, ssk, k2, ssk, k1, sm LSlv, k1, k2tog, work est patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

In addition, on the same page, in the “Working Flat” section, instructions that end with “work to X sts before BOR M,“ etc. should instead end with “work to X sts before end of row,” etc.