Esa Sweater

The Esa Sweater is named after my 12-year-old daughter, Esa (Theresa) – who, after giving me very honest feedback on five earlier attempts, finally gave this version her full approval. So really, it’s her design as much as mine. I just did the knitting. This sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down and features a yoke made with a mix of stranded colorwork and wrapped and twisted stitches – techniques I love using to add texture and interest. The same motif is echoed on the cuffs, bringing a bit of extra charm to the overall look. For yarn, I used a hand-dyed fingering weight yarn as the main color. The colorwork combines a strand of mohair with a strand of lace weight yarn in a contrasting shade, giving it a soft halo and a gentle play of texture. The ease across sizes is 17-17.5 cm/6.75-7”. The picture shows size 3 with 17.5 cm/7” of positive ease. YARN MC: Fingering Single “Annèes Folles” Stellina by Maison Corlène, (95% merino, 5% stellina), 366 m/400 yds in 100 Gr Grams: 240 (265, 290, 330, 365) (390, 420, 450, 490) Meters: 880 (970, 1060, 1210, 1335) (1425, 1535, 1645, 1795) Yards: 960 (1060, 1160, 1320, 1460) (1560, 1680, 1800, 1960) CC: TWO YARNS HELD TOGETHER: 1. Cool Wool Lace by LANA GROSSA, lace weight (100% virgin wool), 400 m/438 yds in 50 Gr Grams: 40 (40, 45, 45, 45) (45, 45, 50, 50) Meters: 320 (320, 360, 360, 360) (360, 360, 400, 400) Yards: 355 (355, 395, 395, 395) (395, 395, 440, 440) I used color No. 15 (lilac) 2. Natural Superkid Tweed by LANA GROSSA, lace weight (60% mohair, 30% silk, 7% cotton, 3% polyester), 200 m/219 yds in 25 Gr Grams: 50 (55, 55, 55, 60) (60, 60, 65, 65) Meters: 400 (440, 440, 440, 480) (480, 480, 520, 520) Yards: 395 (440, 440, 440, 485) (485, 485, 530, 530) I used color No. 629 (rosè) NEEDLES • 2.25 mm/U.S. size 1 80 cm/32” circular needles • 2.25 mm/U.S. size 1 dpns or your preferred needles for knitting small circumference in the round (neck) • 3.0 mm/U.S. size 2.5 80 cm/32” circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge • 3.0 mm/U.S. size 2.5 circular needles or your preferred needles for knitting small circumference in the round (sleeves) NOTIONS • stitch holders or waste yarn • markers • cable needle • tapestry needle or crochet hook to weave in ends and for bind off GAUGE 26 sts/34 RNDs = 10 cm/4” square in stockinette stitch on 3.0 mm/U.S. size 2.5 needles after blocking SIZES 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9) to fit chest circumference: 70 (80, 90, 100, 110) (120, 130, 140, 150) cm/28 (32, 36, 40, 44) (48, 52, 56, 60)" FINISHED CHEST MEASUREMENT 87.5 (97, 107.5, 117, 127.5) (137, 147.5, 157, 167.5) cm 35 (38.75, 43, 46.75, 51) (54.75, 59, 62.75, 67)” PATTERN NOTES • The sweater is worked in one piece top down. • You start with the chart for the neckband, then work the circular yoke according to the charts. • After the circular yoke, you separate the sleeves and the body, add length to the upper back with short rows for neck shaping, then continue working the sleeves and the body separately. SKILLS REQUIRED • basics (knit/purl, increase/decrease) • short rows • ladderback colorwork or afterthought ladderback • working in the round • working from a chart