Vela Sweater

>**Launch offer — 10% off with code VELA10 until Sunday, October 11.** Vela Sweater is a relaxed, modern sweater with the look of a cardigan and the ease of a pullover. Its distinctive sailor collar and contrasting front bands create a graphic, structured detail against the soft texture of the bouclé fabric, while the generous silhouette keeps the overall look effortless and wearable. Worked mostly in garter stitch, Vela combines simple texture with carefully engineered construction for a sweater that feels both contemporary and timeless. **CONSTRUCTION** The sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down, predominantly flat. The collar is worked first in the contrast colour using double knitting and shaped with increases and German Short Rows to create its characteristic sailor-inspired silhouette. The upper body continues directly from the collar and is shaped with short rows and shoulder increases. The back and fronts are then worked separately to the underarms before being joined. The upper section remains open at the front, creating the appearance of a cardigan, while the lower body is joined and worked in the round. The front bands are worked separately in double knitting, with three buttonholes worked along the right band. The two bands are then joined together and incorporated into the lower body. Sleeve stitches are picked up around the armholes and the sleeves are worked in the round to the cuffs, with German Short Rows used to shape the sleeve caps. For knitters who prefer not to purl, the pattern also includes an alternative method for working garter stitch in the round entirely with knit stitches. Designed to be worn with approximately 20–30 cm / 8–12” of positive ease at the bust. **FEATURES** • Seamless top-down construction • Sailor collar worked in double knitting • Soft bouclé garter-stitch fabric • Cardigan-inspired front opening • Double-knitted front bands • Drop-shoulder construction • German Short Row shaping • Alternative no-purl method for garter stitch in the round • Video tutorials for the more technical sections • Advanced / confident intermediate level **MATERIALS** **Yarn** MC 6 (7, 7, 8, 8) (9, 9, 10, 11, 12) balls of Neve by Sesia 50 g / 110 m, 100% merino wool or another similar bouclé yarn. Approx. yardage 624 (691, 728, 811, 847) (916, 979, 1058, 1153, 1231) m / 683 (756, 796, 887, 926) (1002, 1071, 1157, 1260, 1346) yd CC 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) (4, 4, 4, 4, 4) balls of Nordica by Sesia 50 g / 125 m, 100% merino wool or another similar DK-weight yarn. Approx. yardage 340 (360, 365, 380, 390) (400, 405, 420, 435, 450) m / 372 (394, 399, 416, 427) (437, 443, 459, 476, 492) yd **Needles** US 8 / 5 mm circular needles: 16” / 40 cm, 32” / 80 cm or 40” / 100 cm. US 6 / 4 mm circular needles: 16” / 40 cm, 32” / 80 cm and 40” / 100 cm. US 6 / 4 mm double-pointed needle for the front bands. **Gauge** 15 sts and 26 rows = 4” / 10 cm in garter stitch using US 8 / 5 mm needles and MC, after blocking. 36 sts and 52 rows = 4” / 10 cm in double knitting using US 6 / 4 mm needles and CC, after blocking. The double-knitting gauge includes both layers of the fabric; each visible layer corresponds to 18 sts and 26 rows. **FINISHED BUST / BODY CIRCUMFERENCE** 99.5 (107.5, 112.5, 118, 123.5) (131.5, 139.5, 150, 160.5, 168.5) cm 39¼ (42¼, 44¼, 46½, 48½) (51¾, 55, 59, 63¼, 66¼)”