Did you ever fall in love with a yarn?
A yarn that took you by complete surprise and seemed to arrive in your lap just as you needed it?
Well, I fell HARD for this glorious alpaca/silk blend of Surialista in Barcelona Knits in 2023. The soft, tactile nature of it and warmth combined with lightness was irresistible.
In fact, I liked it so much I wound it by hand, and began knitting with it that very evening. As I knit, I felt like it needed something to complement it, so I went back to the festival on Sunday morning with a mission. I wanted to find a lace weight brushed alpaca/silk blend in a complementary colour. It took a while but I found a beautiful green from a French company, LaMiel called ‘Thyme Alpaca’. This then allowed me to break up the super fluffy fabric of the body with drop stitch, open details. Just take a look at this:
Duvet Day Sweater – from idea to kits for you:
I knit the first version for myself, rushing through the knitting as fast as I could so I could wear it.
For the first version, I didn’t add any increases before the body lace so it pulled in a little due to the difference in gauge. I did allow the sleeves to be nice and wide to create wonderful draped cuffs! Here you can see those same, beautiful cuffs in our second version.
Once I had satisfied my immediate desire to wear this sweater, I then began to refine my idea. I started by looking for the yarn more locally and we were delighted to hear that LITLG—just a short way down the road—would work with us to create custom colours for the ‘Suri DK’ yarn. We went back and forth with them over several months to perfect the range of colours with this very unique yarn base.
Once we had the yarn base we then moved into finding a lace weight contrast yarn that would work well with it. We discovered the answer was right in front of our noses, Fyberspates ‘Cumulus’, was the perfect fit! The wide range of colours meant that we could have some fantastic options for combining with the main Suri DK yarn. Just take a look at this pair:
Now that the yarn was all sorted out, it was time to return to my design and refine it. This time I knew how much the lace pattern pulled in so there are increases worked before the lace so it is the same width as the stockinette stitch. I did keep the wide sleeve though as I love the flourish the give to the sweater!
When I went to reknit the sweater I recorded the process, so not only is there a pattern available for ‘Duvet Day’ there is also a companion video workshop if you would like some companionship as you knit. And if you’re wondering about all the knitting details, I have them right here:
Duvet Day Sweater Details
This sweater is knit from the top down, first starting with the upper back using short rows to shape the shoulders. Then you will work the front, and when that is finished the front and back are joined in the round for the body. The body is worked without shaping, with the introduction of drop stitch lace in stripes of a laceweight brushed yarn.
Finally the sleeves are picked up and worked from the top down. They are finished with the same dropped stitch lace in contrast stripes that mirrors the body. The end effect is a light, floaty sweater that is a dream to wear and makes you feels special!
SIZES
To Fit Actual Bust Circumference Up To: 30.5 (34.75, 37.75, 42, 46.5, 50.75, 55.25, 59.5)” / 77.5 (88.5, 96, 106.5, 118, 129, 140.5, 151) cm
3-6” / 7.5-15 cm of positive ease are recommended.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust Circumference: 33.5 (37.75, 40.75, 45, 49.5, 53.75, 58.25, 62.5)” / 85 (96, 103.5, 114.5, 125.5, 136.5, 148, 159) cm
Size 40.75” / 103.5 cm modelled with 5.75” / 14.5 cm positive ease.
Length from Back of Neck: 22.75 (23.25, 23.75, 24.25, 25.75, 26.25, 26.5, 27.25)” / 58 (59, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 70) cm
YARN
MC: Life In the Long Grass ‘Suri Cloud DK’ (90% Baby Suri Alpaca, 10% Silk; 246 yds / 225 m per 3.6 oz / 100 g); colour: Thyme, 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins
CC: Fyberspates ‘Cumulus’ (74% Baby Alpaca, 26% Mulberry Silk; 164 yds / 150 m per 0.88 oz / 25 g); colour: Moss (926); 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skeins
Approx yardage:
MC: 382 (433, 474, 520, 581, 634, 672, 723) yds / 349 (396, 434, 476, 531, 580, 615, 661) m
CC: 47 (53, 58, 64, 71, 78, 82, 88) yds / 43 (49, 53, 58, 65, 71, 75, 81) m
NEEDLES & NOTIONS
US size 10.5 / 7 mm circular needles, 32”/ 80 cm long or longer for larger sizes
US size 10.5 / 7 mm dpns or circular needles, 40”/ 100 cm long Magic Loop for sleeves
Always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed, every knitter’s gauge is unique.
Stitch markers, waste yarn or barber cord, tapestry needle.
GAUGE
11 sts & 18 rows / rnds = 4″ / 10 cm in St St
12 sts & 13 rnds = 4″ / 10 cm in Wave Lace Pattern
11 sts & 20 rnds = 4″ / 10 cm in Garter St
How to Order
The Duvet Day Sweater is available in limited yarn kit quantites. Because of this the pattern, yarn kits, and project workshop are all availabe to pre-order with delivery in January 2025. Just click this button and choose your favourite options: