The Sonja Sweater is worked from the top down in stockinette stitch. First, the top part of the back yoke is worked flat. Then, stitches for the shoulders are picked up and knitted along the cast-on edge of the back yoke. The shoulders are shaped using short rows. The front and back yoke are joined at the underarms and the body is worked in the round on a circular needle. Stitches are then picked up and knitted along the underarms for the sleeves, which are worked in the round. At the end, stitches are picked up and knitted along the neck edge, where a ribbed edge is first worked and then folded over to the inside and knitted down on the wrong side. The Sonja Sweater does not require any finishing.

Begin by knitting a swatch to determine which needle size will give you the correct gauge.

Size guide

The Sonja Sweater is designed to have approx. 30 cm [11¾ inches] of positive ease in the smaller sizes and then gradually less positive ease in the larger sizes. The sizes XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL) are designed to fit a bust circumference of 75-80 (80-85) 85-90 (90-95) 95-100 (100-110) 110-120 (120-130) 130-140 (140-150) cm [29½-31½ (31½-33½) 33½-35½ (35½-37½) 37½-39½ (39½-43¼) 43¼-47¼ (47¼-51¼) 51¼-55 (55-59) inches].

The measurements for the finished sweater are listed on the front page of the pattern. Please note that these measurements are only achieved if the correct gauge is maintained while knitting. Measure yourself before starting your project, to determine which size will fit you the best. For example, if you measure 90 cm [35½ inches] around your bust (or around the widest part of your upper body) you should knit a size S. A size S sweater has a bust circumference of 120 cm [47¼ inches] which in the given example would give you 30 cm 11¾ inches of positive ease.

Sizes: XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL)

Bust circumference: 110 (115) 120 (124) 128 (134) 138 (144) 154 (160) cm [43¾ (45¾) 47¼ (48¾) 50½ (52¾) 54¼ (56¾) 60¾ (63) inches]

Length: 58 (59) 60 (62) 64 (65) 66 (69) 72 (76) cm [22¾ (23¼) 23½ (24½) 25¼ (25½) 26 (27¼) 28¼ (30) inches]

Gauge: 17 sts x 24 rows = 10 x 10 cm [4 x 4 inches] in stockinette stitch on a 5 mm [US8] needle

Needles: Circular needles: 5 mm [US8] / 40, 60, 80 and/or 100 cm [16, 24, 32 and/or 40 inches], 4.5 mm [US7] / 80 or 100 cm [32 or 40 inche\s] and 4 mm US6 / 40 cm [16 inches]; Double-pointed needles: 5 mm [US8] and 4.5 mm [US7]

Materials: Suggestion 1: 500 (500) 600 (600) 600 (600) 700 (700) 700 (800) g Håndværksgarn by Hjelholt Uldspinderi (100 g = 200 m 219 yds)

Suggestion 2: 550 (550-600) 600 (650) 650 (700) 750 (750-800) 800 (850) g Peer Gynt by Sandnes Garn (50 g = 91 m [98 yds]) held together with 150 (150) 150 (150) 150 (150) 200 (200) 200 (200) g Alpakka Følgetråd by Sandnes Garn (50 g = 400 m [437 yds])

Difficulty: ★ ★ ★ ★ (4 out of 5)

See the classification of difficulty here.

The light grey Sonja Sweater is knitted in Håndværksgarn by Hjelholts Uldspinderi in color Havskum [30].

The dark grey Sonja Sweater is knitted in Håndværksgarn by Hjelholts Uldspinderi in color Mørk grå [04].