The inspiration for this sweater - originally knitted by Hilary Bourne - comes straight from the collection of Ditchling Museum of Art +Craft in East Sussex. Bourne spent much of her childhood in Ditchling and was one of the founders of the museum in 1985, along with her sister Joanne.

This sweater is knitted in the round, top down, every round knit, each round starts at centre back. There is no short row back shaping, so it can be worn either way round. The sweater is intended to have a loose fit through the body with roughly 7.5-10cm/3-4in ease at the chest (nb: the top measurement of size 6 has slightly less ease at the chest, at 5cm/2in).

Instructions are given for 6 sizes, to fit the following chest measurements (full measurement details included in the pattern):

• 80-85cm (32-34in)
• 85-92.5cm (34-37in)
• 95-100cm (38-40in)
• 100-105cm (40-42in)
• 105-112.5cm (42-45in)
• 112.5-120cm (45-48in)

The traditional Hilary Bourne version using Romney Marsh wool is close to the original and is produced on the East Sussex/Kent borders from their own sheep herd. If you’re tempted to try different colour combinations, make sure your yarn of choice knits up to the same tension/gauge - Cascade 220 is suggested here as an alternative as it is readily available and comes in a myriad of different shades … just think of the possibilities!