First impressions count.
How so?
This entire design is the result of a first impression.
Last winter, I got a special lightweight version of Blasta milled to create the Cois Farraige shawl. This single-ply yarn was as light as air, and I couldn’t wait to knit another project with it. It felt as though a transitional season garment would be just perfect in the yarn.
As I always have a million projects on the go, so it took a while to get a sample knit up. But now I’m very excited to share my newest design, Soft Trails, with you.
Much thanks to my sample knitter Aimee for her wonderful skills.
Overview
This sweater is designed to be fast to knit and easy to wear. It’s oversized in the body but cropped for a loose, swingy quality. This style is equally at home over either jeans or a dress.
I’m wearing it with about 9″ / 23 cm of positive ease in the image above. The sweater is designed to have 7 – 9″/ 18 – 23 cm. With a lot of positive ease, you need to add a few changes to avoid it looking shapeless. Using a combination of a short length and well-fitted sleeves, you complement the looser shape. This makes it a very comfortable, easy to wear style.
Construction
This sweater is knit from the top down seamlessly. You begin with the upper back (using short rows to slope the shoulders) and then pick up to work the front.
Each side of the body has a simple vertical lace pattern that runs from the shoulder all the way down to the bottom ribbing.
Once you’ve finished the upper body, you’ll join to work in the round, and you’ll work all the rest of the body in the round. There is no waist shaping as the oversized fit really makes it unnecessary.
Once the body is complete, you will come back to work the sleeves. They are picked up around the armhole and worked in the round from the top down. There is, of course, some shaping worked along the bottom edge. They are 3/4 length, but you can easily add a little longer if you would like them a little longer.
Pattern Details
SIZES
To Fit Actual Bust Circumference Up To: 34.25 (36.75, 40, 42.5, 45.5, 48.5, 52, 55, 57.25, 61.75)” / 87 (93.5, 101.5, 108, 115.5, 123, 132, 140, 145.5, 157) cm
7 – 9″ / 18 – 23 cm of positive ease recommended.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Finished Bust Circumference: 41.25 (43.75, 47, 49.5, 52.5, 55.5, 59, 62, 64.25, 68.75)” / 105 (111, 119.5, 125.5, 133.5, 141, 150, 157.5, 163, 174.5) cm
Size 43.75″ / 111 cm modelled with 9″/ 23 cm positive ease.
Length: 21.5 (22.25, 23.25, 24, 24.25, 25.25, 26, 27, 27.5, 28.5)” / 54.5 (56.5, 59, 61, 61.5, 64, 66, 68.5, 70, 72.5) cm from top of shoulder
YARN
Stolen Stitches ‘Blasta Light’ (60% Fine Irish Wool, 40% New Zealand Wool; 470 yds / 430 m per 3.6 oz / 100 g); Breac; 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) skeins
Approx Yardage: 856 (930, 1029, 1100, 1177, 1273, 1380, 1499, 1568, 1708) yds / 728 (792, 876, 937, 1002, 1084, 1175, 1276, 1335, 1454) m
NEEDLES & NOTIONS
2 US size 5 / 3.75 mm circular needles, 32” / 80 cm long or longer for larger sizes
US size 5 / 3.75 mm dpns if magic loop not used for sleeve
Always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed, as every knitter’s gauge is unique.
4 stitch markers, 4 safety pins, tapestry needle.
GAUGE
22 sts and 32 rnds = 4″ / 10 cm in St St blocked
21 sts and 32 rnds = 4″ / 10 cm in Openwork Ladder blocked
Blasta Light
Blasta light is the lightweight sister of my Blasta yarn. It’s the same great yarn but just in a single-ply weight. Due to the fact that it’s woollen spun and single-ply, this is a delicate yarn.
Within the yarn, you can sometimes find thick and thin spots due to the spinning process, and it will break when pulled vigorously; you’ll need to use a felted join if it breaks.
Now, you might think that garments worked in this yarn are delicate.
Not so.
The knitting process adds durability, and you can treat finished pieces in Blasta Light like any other garment.
This means that the lightweight nature of the finished garment when it has been wet blocked makes it a complete joy to wear. It’s warm but as light as air.
Please remember to handwash only!
Where To Purchase
You can now buy both the pattern and yarn kit on my website. (Note the yarn kit does not include the pattern). You will also get a 5% ‘bundle’ discount if you add both to your cart.
You can also use discount code ‘NEWTRAILS‘ for 10% discount on this pattern until the 21st of August on both my website and Ravelry.
Find the pattern here on my website or on Ravelry here.
Find the yarn kit here.
Happy Knitting!