Linda Sweater and Dress

Sizes: 1 (2) 3 (4) 5 (6) 7 (8) 9 (10) ● Level: 3/5 ● Linda is more than meets the eye. While the silhouette is classically beautiful, it is constructed in a thoroughly modern way and adapts to countless styles. I fell so deeply in love with Linda that I ended up creating two completely different versions. The Linda dress is feminine, close-fitting, and even a bit playful. It offers the knitter a wealth of exquisite techniques to enjoy: the shoulder line begins with a double-knitted tube, from which the front and back pieces cascade down. The collar flows seamlessly into the front panels, and the hem finishes with an unexpected, beautiful ruffle. The Linda sweater is more minimalist. It features a long hem, and the high, double-folded collar practically invites you to slip inside its cozy embrace. * FINISHED DRESS MEASUREMENTS Bust Circumference: 77 (87) 96 (106) 115 (124) 134 (144) 154 (163) cm / 30.75 (34.75) 38.5 (42.5) 46 (49.5) 53.5 (57.5) 61.5 (65.25)". Total Length (from neckline to hem): 95 cm / 38" in all sizes.* Upper Arm Circumference: 34 (34) 36 (38) 40 (42) 44 (46) 48 (50) cm / 13.5 (13.5) 14.5 (15.25) 16 (16.75) 17.5 (18.5) 19.25 (20)". Sleeve Length: 48 (48) 48 (48) 43 (43) 43 (43) 43 (43) cm / 19.25 (19.25) 19.25 (19.25) 17.25 (17.25) 17.25 (17.25) 17.25 (17.25)". *Or your preferred length FINISHED SWEATER MEASUREMENTS Bust Circumference: 80 (90) 100 (110) 120 (130) 140 (150) 160 (170) cm / 32 (36) 40 (44) 48 (52) 56 (60) 64 (68)". Total Length (from neckline to hem): 60 cm / 24" in all sizes.* Upper Arm Circumference: 36 (36) 38 (40) 42 (44) 46 (48) 50 (52) cm / 14.5 (14.5) 15.25 (16) 16.75 (17.5) 18.5 (19.25) 20 (20.75)". Sleeve Length: 48 (48) 48 (48) 43 (43) 43 (43) 43 (43) cm / 19.25 (19.25) 19.25 (19.25) 17.25 (17.25) 17.25 (17.25) 17.25 (17.25)". *Or your preferred length CHOOSING YOUR SIZE The sweater has 5–15 cm / 2–6" of positive ease at the bust, meaning the fit is quite close-fitting. Measure your own bust circumference, add 5–15 cm / 2–6" and find the closest size in the size chart. You can also measure a favorite sweater you already own and find the matching size. It’s also worth measuring your preferred sleeve width at the upper arm. Hem length can easily be adjusted to taste. The dress is designed to fit more closely than the sweater, with 0–10 cm / 0–4" of positive ease at the bust, meaning the dress follows your figure quite closely. Measure your own bust circumference, add 0–10 cm / 0–4" and find the closest size in the size chart. Also measure your hip circumference to see how the bust measurement of the dress would feel there. The dress is meant to reveal your shape. Hem length can easily be adjusted to taste. Sample sweater and dress in size 2, Leeni’s bust 83 cm / 33.25", height 168 cm / 67.25", model’s bust 80 cm / 31.5", height 173 cm / 68". MATERIALS Yarn Dress Yarn 1: Gepard Garn Wild and Soft (60% merino, 40% silk, 240 m / 262 yds – 50 g). 330 (370) 400 (440) 470 (500) 540 (580) 620 (650) g in the colourway natural white (101). Or 1584 (1776) 1920 (2112) 2256 (2400) 2592 (2784) 2976 (3120) m / 1735 (1945) 2100 (2310) 2470 (2625) 2835 (3045) 3255 (3415) yds of light fingering-weight yarn. Yarn 2: Gepard Garn Cashmere Lace (100% cashmere, 330 m / 361 yds – 25 g). 120 (140) 150 (160) 170 (190) 200 (220) 230 (240) g in the colourway natural white (101B). Or 1584 (1848) 1980 (2112) 2244 (2508) 2640 (2904) 3036 (3168) m / 1735 (2025) 2165 (2310) 2455 (2745) 2890 (3180) 3325 (3465) yds of lace-weight yarn. The dress is worked holding both strands together. Sweater Yarn 1: Gepard Garn Wild and Soft (60% merino, 40% silk, 240 m / 262 yds – 50 g). 290 (310) 330 (350) 370 (400) 430 (450) 480 (500) g in the colourway brown (172). Or 1390 (1490) 1585 (1680) 1775 (1920) 2065 (2305) 2305 (2400) m / 1525 (1630) 1735 (1840) 1945 (2100) 2260 (2365) 2520 (2625) yds of fingering-weight yarn. Yarn 2: Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair (70% mohair, 30% silk, 225 m / 246 yds – 25 g). 150 (165) 175 (185) 200 (215) 230 (240) 260 (270) g in the colourway Bark. Or 1585 (1850) 1980 (2110) 2245 (2510) 2640 (2905) 3035 (3170) / 1475 (1625) 1725 (1820) 1970 (2115) 2265 (2365) 2560 (2660) yds of lace-weight mohair yarn. The sweater is worked holding both strands together. Other yarn options for fingering-weight yarn include mYak Baby Yak/Silk tai Isager Alpaca 2 and for lace-weight yarn Isager Silk Mohair or any lace-weight mohair yarn. Needles 3.5 mm (US 4) Long circular needle for the body. DPNs for sleeves, if you don’t use the magic loop technique. 2.5 mm (US 1.5) Long circular needle for the hem ribbing. DPNs for the shoulder seam tube. Notions Cable needle, stitch markers, tapestry needle. GAUGE Sweater: 24 sts x 27 rows = 10 cm / 4" in cable pattern with 3.5 mm (US 4) needle. Cable pattern repeat 24 sts x 36 rows = 10 cm x 13 cm / 4" x 5.25". Dress: 25 sts x 34 rows = 10 cm / 4" in cable pattern with 3.5 mm (US 4) needle. Cable pattern repeat 24 sts x 36 rows = 9.5 cm x 9.5 cm / 3.75" x 3.75". CONSTRUCTION The sweater and dress are worked seamlessly from the top down. First, the shoulder tube is worked, from which stitches are picked up for the back piece and the shoulders are shaped with short rows. The back piece is worked flat to the underarms. Next, the front piece stitches are picked up from the shoulder tube and worked flat to the underarms, where the body is joined in the round. You can either finish the work as a sweater or simply continue working the body into a dress. The hems for the sweater and dress are finished differently. Sleeve stitches are picked up from the armholes and worked from the top down. Finally, the neckband is worked in ribbing.