Use code RAV_HIMMA to get a 15% discount. Code is valid until 9th August 23:59 BST.

This top is designed for knitters who want to try colourwork but haven’t found the right project to start with. The floats are short, there are plenty of single colour rounds to give you a break, and all of the colourwork is worked in the round so you always have the right side facing you.

It’s also not a round yoke. The set-in sleeve and European shoulder give you a tailored, structured fit that works well if you’ve tried yoke sweaters before and felt they weren’t quite right for your body.

The construction is top down and seamless, with the yoke worked in one piece. The pattern comes with a full video course: https://go.zaneteknits.com/him-course that walks you through every technique step by step. You will also pick up colourwork tips and tricks along the way that you can carry into future projects. If you’ve been putting off your first colourwork sweater, this is a good place to start.

Himma is the Arabic word for determination and it feels like it’s a great match for this project because you would need some to show up and do the work, stitch by stitch, even when something is completely new.

Join our newsletter and be the first to know about new pattern releases, test calls exclusive discounts, events and other news.

Translations provided by knitlingo.com

Difficulty: Intermediate.

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

Finished chest circumference:

• 95 (105, 115, 125, 135, 145, 155, 165, 175) cm
• 38 (42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70)”

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

Yarn: Sport weight yarn

Main Colour (MC):

• 630 (685, 740, 795, 860, 920, 985, 1050, 1110) m
• 690 (750, 810, 870, 940, 1005, 1075, 1145, 1210) yds

Contrast Colour (CC):

• 295 (320, 350, 375, 405, 435, 465, 500, 530) m
• 325 (350, 380, 410, 445, 475, 510, 545, 580) yds

Yardage is approximate, it includes around 10% for swatching and is based on the short sleeve version.

NOTE: For long sleeves, allow additional 215 m / 235 yds of MC and 190 m / 210 yds of CC.*

Yarn used in the sample (size 2, short sleeves with waist shaping) is 3 skeins of Spincycle Yarns & Farmer’s Daughter Fibers The Spinster’s Daughter (100% Superwash American Wool; 275 m 300 yds / approximately 75 g) in colourway “Love Me Like You Used To” as main colour and 2 skeins of Spincycle Yarns Dyed In The Wool (100% Superwash American Wool; 183 m 200 yds / approximately 50 g) in colourway “House Blend” as contrast colour.

Gauge: 24 sts & 32 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Stockinette in the round, blocked.

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) DPNs for small circumference knitting
• 2.75 (US 2) or 1-2 needle size(s) smaller than gauge needles for ribbing.

Notions: Stitch markers, locking markers, row counter, tape measure, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle.

Techniques used: Knitting in the round, knit increases, stranded colourwork, Backwards loop cast-on, Cable cast-on, I-cord bind-off.

Construction notes: The top is worked seamlessly from the top down. It starts by casting on stitches for the back neckline and shaping the shoulders using increases.

Stitches are then picked up along the back shoulders to create the front shoulders, working each side separately with increases to shape the front neckline.

Next, stitches for sleeves are picked up along the front shoulder edges, the fronts are connected, and the yoke is worked in one piece down to the underarm. Increases are added along the sleeves and body during this section.

The sleeves are separated, and the body is worked in one piece down to the desired length with optional waist shaping.

The sleeves are worked separately in the round, down to the cuffs.

The neckband is added by picking up stitches along the neckline and working in the round to the desired height.