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Austras Koks is a concept in Latvian mythology, also called the Tree of Life, because it symbolises the path of the Sun and the world order. The meaning of Austras Koks is explained as a connection between three realms. The roots are connected to the underworld, the central part is the earthly world illuminated by the Sun, and the foliage is the kingdom of heaven.

This is the sportweight version of the original Austras Koks Pullover. The chart is the same, but this time it’s worked in just two colours to really let the motifs do the talking. The finer gauge brings out more detail in the motifs, and the addition of the Ladderback Jacquard method keeps the float management invisible on the public side.

Whether you go bold and bright or stick to earthy tones, these ancient motifs look great either way.

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Translations provided by knitlingo.com

Difficulty: Intermediate

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Finished chest circumference:

• 96.5 (105.5, 114.5, 127.5, 134.5, 147.5, 154.5, 165.5, 176.5) cm
• 38½ (42¼, 45¾, 51, 53¾, 59, 61¾, 66¼, 70½)”

Designed to be worn with 15-20 cm / 6-8” positive ease around the chest.

Yarn: Sport weight. Depending on the length of the sweater and shaping option, allow approximately:

Main colour (MC):

• 1090 (1185, 1265, 1380, 1445, 1565, 1640, 1745, 1850) m
• 1195 (1295, 1385, 1510, 1580, 1710, 1790, 1910, 2025) yds

Contrast colour (CC):

• 255 (275, 295, 305, 325, 345, 375, 385, 400) m
• 280 (305, 320, 335, 355, 380, 410, 425, 440) yds

Yarns used in sample (size 2) are 2 145 g skeins of single-ply Dundaga Wool (100% Latvian wool; 420 m 460 yds / 100 g) in unnamed green as main colour and 1 skein of mYak Tibetan Fibers Tibetan Cloud (100% Tibetan Wool; 300 m 328 yds / 100 g) in Cherry Blossom as contrast colour.

Gauge: 22 sts & 30 rows = 10 cm / 4” in stranded colourwork in the round, blocked. Block your swatch the same way you plan to block your garment and let it fully dry before measuring the gauge.

Suggested needles:

• 3.25 mm (US 3) or needle size that gets the gauge; circulars with sharp tips, 60-100 cm / 24-40″ long and (optional) double-pointed needles for small circumference knitting
• 2.75 (US 2) or 1-2 needle size(s) smaller than gauge needles for ribbing.

Notions: Stitch markers, locking stitch markers and/or bobby pins if using Japanese short rows, row counter, stitch holder, tapestry needle, measuring tape, contrasting waste yarn and spare set of circular needles in the same size.

Techniques used: Knitting in round, short rows, stranded knitting, Ladderback jacquard.

Notes: The sweater is knit in the round, starting with a cast-on at the neckline base. Increases are worked, followed by short rows to raise the back of the neck. Next, the contrast colour is added, and the colourwork chart is followed up to the sleeves and body separation.

The body and sleeves are then worked separately in the round. The body can be shaped or kept straight, and the sleeves are decreased to the wrists. Length of the body and sleeves can be easily adjusted. The hem and cuffs are finished with a 1x1 rib.

Finally, stitches are picked up around the neckline base to make the neckband and worked to double-height.