Introducing the Elza Sweater, the first garment in a new collection inspired by motifs I have seen on traditional Latvian mittens.

The design is a raglan with simple shaping and all-over stranded colourwork so you can enjoy the process of savouring every stitch. It is worked top down seamlessly in the round, although the neckline area is worked flat. 

The chart is a simple, repetitive symmetric motif  with predominantly short floats. It has a very intuitive rhythm and makes for a relaxing project. 

Using a colour-changing gradient as the main colour adds to the intrigue and makes the project more addictive. I recommend using colour combinations with high contrast so the intricate motif stands out. Any sport weight yarn that gets the gauge and works well for stranded colourwork will be a perfect choice for this project.

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

Finished chest circumference: 

• 94 (103, 114, 123, 134, 143, 154, 163, 174) cm
• 37½ (41¼, 45½, 49¼, 53½, 57¼, 61½, 65¼, 69½)”

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

Tag on social media with #elzasweater

Translations provided by knitlingo.com

Note: The product sold here is a knitting pattern in a PDF format and not the finished sweater.

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

Sport weight,  depending on the length of the sweater, allow approximately:

Main colour (MC):

• 1095 (1185, 1290, 1360, 1460, 1545, 1660, 1785, 1895) m 
• 1195 (1300, 1410, 1485, 1600, 1690, 1820, 1950, 2070) yds 

Contrast colour (CC):

• 905 (985, 1070, 1125, 1210, 1275, 1375, 1470, 1565) m 
• 990 (1075, 1170, 1230, 1325, 1395, 1500, 1610, 1710) yds 

Yarn used in the sample (size 2) is 4 skeins of Dundaga Wool (100% Latvian Wool; 420 m [460 yds] / 100 g), two skeins (each weighing just under 200 g) of dark gradient as Main Colour (MC) and 2 skeins (each weighing just under 200 g) of natural undyed the Contrast colour (CC).

Sport

Sweater

Intermediate

26 sts & 32 rows = 10 cm / 4"

Stranded colourwork in the round, on larger needles, blocked.

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

Lifted increases, stranded colourwork, Backwards loop cast-on, knitting in the round, i-cord bind-off.

The sweater is knit seamlessly from the top down. Stitches for the neckline are cast on and divided among the fronts, sleeves, and back. The piece is worked flat, increasing along four raglan lines and shaping the neckline using increases. Eventually, all sections are joined in the round with additional cast-on stitches to complete the front neckline.

The rest of the yoke is worked in the round down to the underarms with continued raglan shaping. The body and sleeves are then separated. The body is knit in the round straight down to the hem and finished with a short 1x1 rib and i-cord bind-off. The sleeves are worked in the round with decreases down to the cuffs.

Finally, stitches are picked up from the neckline cast-on edge and worked in round in a short 1x1 rib and finished the same way as the hem.