The KARO SWEATER is a classic raglan-style sweater featuring slip-stitch colourwork stripes that mimic a woven texture. The distinct colourwork pattern, evocative of squared paper, reminds us of school days spent colouring in the little squares during idle moments. This playful engagement with ‘Karo(papier)’ - a colloquial German term for squared paper - not only inspired the sweater’s name but also mirrors the whimsical joy found in the simplicity of its design.

The standout feature of the design is its colourwork stripes, created using a slip-stitch technique that involves using the contrast colour without actually knitting it after every two rounds or rows worked in the main colour.

The sweater is knitted seamlessly from the bottom up, starting with the sleeves and body worked separately before they are joined together in the round at the underarms. The yoke is then shaped along the raglan lines, employing simple decreases.

The KARO SWEATER was designed using unspun Manchelopi yarn from Wooldreamers. The main colour combines a single strand of Manchelopi and a single strand of silk mohair, while the contrast colour uses two strands of Manchelopi. The use of this thinner yarn combination for the main colour helps to reduce bulk, especially since the woven colourwork stripes consist of two layers of double-stranded Manchelopi, resulting in four strands stacked on top of each other. Using the thinner yarn combination for the main colour ensures balance, producing a textured fabric with a slight drape. This keeps the sweater warm without making the fabric too stiff.

Sizing
Please choose a size 12-20 cm larger than your actual chest circumference. The sample in the photos is size 2 with 16 cm positive ease.

You can choose from 9 size-inclusive, unisex sizes, with finished chest circumferences of: 91 (100) 109 (118) 127 (136) 144 (153) 164 cm

A schematic with comprehensive measurements is included in the knitting pattern.

Recommended Yarn
Wooldreamers - Manchelopis (unspun yarn, comes double stranded in plates of 100g = 230m/460m):

‘Blanco Natural’ (MC) held single stranded together with a single strand of Filcolana - Tilia (30% mulberry silk and 70% kid mohair, 25g = 210m) in ‘101 - Natural White’ as the main colour. Wooldreamers - Manchelopis in colourways ‘Caldero’ (CC1), ‘Verde Botella’ (CC2) and ‘Lavanda’ (CC3) held double stranded as contrast colours.

Main Colour: Wooldreamers - Manchelopis ‘Blanco Natural’

• Meters: 630 (685) 815 (820) 840 (990) 1020 (1065) 1110
• Grams: 135 (150) 175 (180) 185 (215) 220 (230) 240
• Plates: 2 (2) 2 (2) 2 (3) 3 (3) 3

held single stranded together with

Filcolana - Tilia (30% mulberry silk and 70% kid mohair, 25g = 210m) in ‘101 - Natural White’

• Meters: 780 (850) 1010 (1020) 1040 (1230) 1270 (1325) 1385
• Grams: 95 (100) 120 (120) 125 (145) 150 (160) 165
• Balls: 4 (4) 5 (5) 5 (6) 6 (7) 7

Contrast Colour (in total): Wooldreamers - Manchelopis

• Meters: 215 (230) 265 (270) 275 (315) 325 (335) 350
• Grams: 95 (100) 115 (115) 120 (135) 140 (145) 150
• Plates: 1 (1) 2 (2) 2 (2) 2 (2) 2

Contrast Colour 1/2/3 (each): Wooldreamers - Manchelopis

• Meters: 90 (95) 105 (105) 110 (120) 125 (130) 135
• Grams: 40 (40) 45 (45) 50 (50) 55 (55) 60
• Plates: 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1

Please note that this is an estimate. Your individual yarn consumption will vary based on your yarn, gauge, size, and the desired sleeve/ body length. It is advisable to get a little more than you think you’ll need.

Also note that I have listed the estimated meterages for the contrast colour both as a total and for each colour separately. The meterages listed for each colour separately are higher because I have added a larger safety margin for using multiple colours as opposed to just one. The reason for this is that you may use more or less of each colour depending on their order in the project.

Yarn Substitutes
Wooldreamers - Saona (50% Andalusian Cotton, 50% Merino Entrefino and Manchego wool, 50g = 220m) in ‘Groen’ (MC) held together with Knitting for Olive Silk Mohair (70% Mohair, 30% Silk, 25g = 225m) in ‘Dusty Artichoke’ as the main colour. Wooldreamers - Mota (100% Merino Entrefino and Manchego wool, 100g = 230m) in ‘Blanco Natural’ as contrast colour.

Main Colour: Wooldreamers - Saona - ‘Groen’

• Meters: 725 (790) 940 (945) 970 (1140) 1175 (1230) 1285
• Grams: 165 (180) 215 (215) 220 (260) 265 (280) 290
• Balls: 4 (4) 5 (5) 5 (6) 6 (6) 6

held together with

Knitting for Olive - Silk Mohair - ‘Dusty Artichoke’

• Meters: 725 (790) 940 (950) 970 (1145) 1180 (1230) 1285
• Grams: 80 (90) 105 (105) 110 (125) 130 (135) 145
• Balls: 4 (4) 5 (5) 5 (5) 6 (6) 6

Contrast Colour (in total): Wooldreamers - Mota - ‘Blanco Natural’

• Meters: 235 (255) 295 (300) 305 (355) 365 (375) 390
• Grams: 100 (110) 130 (130) 135 (155) 160 (165) 170
• Balls: 1 (2) 2 (2) 2 (2) 2 (2) 2

Contrast Colour 1/2/3 (each) - Wooldreamers - Mota -

• Meters: 110 (120) 130 (135) 135 (150) 155 (160) 165
• Grams: 50 (50) 55 (60) 60 (65) 65 (70) 70
• Balls: 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1

Gauge
The gauge in pattern is 18 sts and 21 rounds/rows per 10 cm.

Needles
3.5 mm and 4.0 mm 60-120 cm circular needles and/or DPNs.

Notions
Stitch markers, stitch holders, a darning needle for weaving in ends, measuring tape, scissors.

Pattern Specifications
The pattern includes comprehensive written instructions. A schematic with measurements is also provided in the pattern.

This digital knitting pattern has been professionally tech-edited and is available in the following language: English.