This yoked jumper is inspired by the lovely colours of Whistlebare’s Cheviot Marsh DK yarn. This is shearling wool from Cheviot and Romney Marsh sheep reared in Northumberland, spun in Yorkshire and hand dyed at Whistlebare. This yarn is ideal for colourwork and gives excellent stitch definition.
When I first saw this yarn I was reminded of walking in the countryside at sunset and wanted to show this in a garment.
I also wanted to use jacquard floats because I think it is a very useful and elegant technique. I wanted to combine twisted stitches with colourwork and came up with these stems of ryegrass flowers silhouetted against a summer sunset. That’s the idea anyway. They might also be wheat, or couch grass, or poplar trees, you can see them any way you like!
The jumper is worked from the bottom up. A narrow twisted rib is followed by a band of twisted stitch pattern worked from a chart. The sleeves and body are worked separately, then joined to form the yoke. Short rows are worked at the start of the yoke to raise the back a little, then after some preliminary decreases the yoke is worked from a chart. Further optional short rows can be worked to raise the back neck then a twisted stitch rib completes the neckband.
For a fitted look, pick the size above your actual body size. If you want a more relaxed fit then go for one or even two sizes above this. The jumper as described reaches to the hips but I think it would also work well as a cropped style, by knitting the body about 10 cm 4 inches shorter.
Techniques include knit, purl, increases and decreases, twisted stitches, stranded colourwork from a chart, jacquard floats, grafting.
finished bust/chest circumference 81(88.5, 97, 113.5, 121) {129.5, 137, 153.3, 162} cm, 32(34.75, 38.25, 44.75, 47.75) {51, 54, 60.5, 63.75} inches.
Yarn name & company: Whistlebare Cheviot Marsh DK, a blend of Romney Marsh and Romney x Cheviot 100% lambswool from Northumberland. This is sold in 230 m /250 yd skeins weighing approx 100g.
Colour A, Woodland Wander is used for the main body of the garment. You will need 45, 5, 6, 6 {6, 7, 8, 8} skeins. If you enjoy a bit of yarn chicken, you may get away with 4 skeins for the 2nd size or 7 skeins for the 8th size but this is taking a bit of a risk. I had to unravel my swatch and had only a few grams to spare after making size 2.
Colour B, Serenity is used for the decoration on the hem and sleeves. You will need 1 skein for all sizes.
Colours C, D and E are Gilded Stone, Northern Soul and Equinox. You will need 1 skein of each. For the first 3 sizes, and perhaps the 4th, a mini skein should be enough, but for the larger sizes you will need either a full skein or two minis.
In metres and yards:
Colour A: 874(951, 1047, 1203, 1267) {1398, 1499, 1701, 1807} metres 950(1034, 1138, 1307, 1377) {1519, 1629, 1849, 1965} yds.
Colour B: 117(124, 135, 151, 158) {168, 175, 191, 202} metres 127 (135, 146, 164, 171) {183, 190, 207, 219} yds
Colours C, D and E: each 38(40, 43, 46, 49) {52, 55, 58, 61} metres 41(44, 47, 50, 53) {57, 60, 63, 66} yds.
These yarn estimates include around 10% for swatching and to allow for small differences in gauge.