Birgitta by Hélène Magnússon

Birgitta

Knitting
September 2019
yarn held together
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches
in St st
US 7 - 4.5 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
339 - 656 yards (310 - 600 m)
2(3,4,6)8,10,12 years old
English French Icelandic
This pattern is available for €6.50 EUR
buy it now or visit pattern website

Birgitta is a classic lopi sweater for toddlers and children, with a few modern tweaks in the spirit of my popular adult sweaters Gamaldags and Gamallegur.
First, I achieved a much softer and lighter sweater by knitting a single strand of Plötulopi together with my Love Story lace yarn. Icelandic children, mine included, often complain that the Léttlopi is scratchy. The Icelandic Love Story ads both softness and sturdiness to the unspun lopi. Note however that the white plötulopi is significantly softer than the dyed colors.
Then, I refined the shape with a very discreet A-line for comfort and ease of movement, as well as with my signature short rows to create a true neckline.
And finally, I added some elbow shaping to prevent the formation of holes, a very efficient technique borrowed from Icelandic jackets from the past centuries.
The pattern gives instructions both for a sweater and for a cardigan with button bands.

Sizes: 2(3,4,6)8,10,12 years
Positive ease at chest: 5 cm/2”.
Choose a size: add the ease to the actual chest measurement and choose the size the closest to the result. Length can vary a lot between children.

Finished measurements
Chest (add 2.5 cm /1” button bands for cardigan): 53.5(55.5,58,64.5)71,73.5,80 cm / 21(22,22¾,23½)28,29,31½“
Hips (add 2.5 cm /1” button bands for cardigan): 58(60,62,69)75.5,78,84.5 cm / 22¾(23½,24½,27)29¾,30½,33¼”
Neckline (add 2.5 cm /1” button bands for cardigan): 31(33.5,33.5,35.5)38,40,42 cm / 12¼(13,13,14)15,15¾,16½”
Total body length to underarm: 23(25.5,29,32)33,35.5,38 cm / 9(10,11½,12½)13,14,15”
Yoke depth at back: 13.5 (14,14.5,15)16,17.5,18.5 cm / 5¼(5½,5¾,6)6¼,7,7½,”
Sleeve length to underarm: 21.5(24,26.5,29)32,34,38 cm / 8½(9½,10½,11½,12½,13½,15”
Top arm: 22(23,24.5,25.5)26.5,28,29 cm / 8¾(9,9½,10)10½,11,11½ “

Wool
MC: 1 strand of plötulopi and 1 strand of Love Story together (alternatively you can use Léttlopi but the sweater will be twice heavier and not as soft)

  • Plötulopi from Ístex, 100% new wool, unspun, approx. 110g plate = 330 m/360 yds: 1(2,2,2)2,2,2 plates
  • Love Story Einband from Hélène Magnússon, 100% new wool, 100% Icelandic lambswool, fine lace weight, 1 ply, 25 g skein = 225 m / 246 yds: 2(2,2,3)3,3,3 skeins CCs: Léttlopi from Ístex, 100% new wool, unspun with light twist, Aran weight, 50 g ball = 100 m / 109 yds: 1 skein or 1/2 skein of each color depending on the color combination chosen.

Color combination shown

Beige sweater with mustard:
MC: 1 Plötulopi white 0051+ 1 Love Story Hafra beige
CC: Léttlopi mustard 9264, custom dyed for Icelandic Knitter
Turquoise cardigan with reds/pinks:
MC: 1 Plötulopi white 0051+ 1 Love Story Glacier turquoise
CCs: Léttlopi pink 1412, red 9434, purple 1414
Very light grey sweater with many colors:
MC: 1 Plötulopi white 0051+ 1 Love Story Natural grey
CCs: Léttlopi bright pink special dye, green 1406, yellow 1703, turquoise 1404, red 9434
White cardigan with brown:
MC: 1 Plötulopi white 0051+ 1 Love Story Basalt grey
CCs: Léttlopi light brown 1419, dark brown 0053
Grey cardigan with white/brown:
MC: 1 Plötulopi white 0051 + 1 Love Story Basalt grey
CCs: Léttlopi light brown 1419, white 0051 (or 1 Plötulopi white 0051 + 1 Love Story Natural white)