A knitting pattern to make an ethereal top down cosy sweater.
The cloud designs are revealed across the body, shoulders, and sleeves using stranded knitting techniques with three strands of yarns. The two thinner strands of yarns adds a gradient colour effect and a soft brushed texture to recreate the dreamy sky backdrop behind the clouds, and the slit at the waist rib edge allows for an effortless ‘French Tuck’ technique when wearing. Designed in loving memory of my faithful companion, Chunk, who loved gazing at the skies on warm days. May this comforting sweater act as a gentle reminder of the comforting presence of those we’ve lost.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL

Gauge/Tension : 11 st & 15 rows = 10 cm in stockinette stitch using 1 strand of Drops Air, and 2 strands of Brushed Alpaca Slik on 8mm needles. We recommend following Sleeve Chart LS3 as part of the gauge test (page 19 of the pattern file).

Needles : 8mm (US 11) circular needles, cable length: 80cm (32”)
6mm (US 10) circular needles, cable length: 60cm (24”)
Note : Cable lengths recommended here are for the magic loop method. See technique notes for
alternative options.

YARN AMOUNT :
Size Indication: XS (S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL)

Drops Air - 50 g per skein:
• 02 - Wheat : 4 (5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Drops Brushed Alpaca Silk - 25 g per skein:
• 01 - Off white : 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4)
• 02 - Light Grey : 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2)
• 20 - Pink Sand : 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5)
• 22 - Pale Rust : 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3)

NOTIONS: Shirring elastic (optional) to keep the neck rib from stretching

PATTERN NOTES:
The entire garment, except for the waist rib, is worked in the round from the top down using circular needles and the
magic loop technique. The mock neck is knitted from the midpoint of the back and then downwards. Next, the yoke
is worked seamlessly in the round, spanning from one shoulder seam to the other with the pattern worked across the
front first then onto the back. The yoke is subsequently divided to create the body and sleeves. The body is continued
in the round, working down to the waist rib, after which it is divided into front and back sections, where the rib edge is
worked back and forth. The sleeves are picked up and worked from the top down in the round, extending to the cuff rib
edge.

STRANDED KNITTING TECHNIQUE FOR COLOUR WORK:
For this pattern, you’ll work with three strands of yarn: the Main Color (MC) is constant throughout, while two thinner
Background Colors (BC) are combined with MC. When knitting white cloud areas, replace the colored BC with two white
strands. The pattern includes instructions to gradually shift the combined BC strands from white & grey to grey & pink,
pink & pink, and finally pink & rust, creating a gradient background. Employ stranded knitting techniques, similar to Fair
Isle, keeping unused strands at the back with short floats (only 1 stitch each). Knit continental style with the working
strands in your left hand, using your right hand to create the floats, akin to English knitting. This approach simplifies
chart-based colourwork, ensuring neat results.