Elmar Sweater in Viking Of Norway - UK-2319-4 - Downloadable PDF

Elmar Sweater by Turid Stapnes – Viking of Norway Bamboo Yarn Knitting Pattern (UK-2319-4)

The Elmar Sweater is a beautifully crafted colourwork pullover designed by Turid Stapnes and published by Viking of Norway under pattern number UK-2319-4. Knitted in the brand's Bamboo yarn, this intermediate-level project produces a seamless, yoke-construction sweater featuring a striking multi-colour stranded pattern across the upper body. The design is available as a downloadable PDF and is suitable for knitters who are comfortable working in the round, managing two-colour stranded colourwork, and reading charted diagrams.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a classic pullover sweater with a round yoke, ribbed cuffs, a ribbed hem, and a neat ribbed neckband. It is sized to fit a range of chest measurements from 86 cm to 126 cm (approximately 33¾ to 49½ inches), covering six sizes: x/small, small, medium, large, x/large, and xx/large. The whole length of the sweater ranges from 67 to 70 cm depending on size, and sleeve length ranges from 44 to 49 cm. The yoke is worked in a colourwork diagram that creates a decorative, repeating motif across the shoulders and upper chest — a hallmark of Scandinavian-style knitwear.

Construction Technique

The Elmar Sweater is knitted entirely in the round, which eliminates the need for seaming the main body and sleeves. The construction follows a seamless yoke method: the body and both sleeves are worked separately to the underarm, then joined onto a single circular needle to work the yoke as one continuous piece. This technique, popular in Nordic and Scandinavian knitting traditions, creates a smooth, comfortable garment with minimal finishing.

The yoke is shaped through decreases worked within the colourwork diagram (Diagram A), gradually reducing the stitch count from a combined total of 288 to 408 stitches (depending on size) down to 82 to 102 stitches for the neckband. A small number of additional plain stocking stitch rounds are worked for the two largest sizes before the colourwork begins, ensuring correct yoke proportions across all sizes.

The pattern specifies beginning the yoke at the right shoulder at centre back, counting into the diagram from that point to ensure the colourwork motif is correctly centred and aligned across the garment.

Colourwork Technique

The yoke features two-colour stranded colourwork, in which two yarn colours are carried simultaneously across each round, with the unused colour stranded loosely across the wrong side of the fabric. The pattern includes an important tip for consistent results: always hold the two strands in the same order throughout the entire piece. If the darker strand is held in front, it must remain in front for every round, including any yarn-overs. This consistency ensures even tension and prevents the colours from twisting or the motif from appearing uneven on the right side. This is a fundamental principle of stranded colourwork knitting and is especially important when working with multiple colours across a yoke.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) – worked in the round for the body, sleeves, and plain sections of the yoke
• k1, p1 ribbing – used for the hem, cuffs, and neckband, providing stretch and a neat, professional finish
• Two-colour stranded colourwork – worked from Diagram A across the yoke, with decreases integrated into the chart
• Decreases – worked as indicated within the colourwork diagram to shape the yoke
• Cast-off in pattern – the neckband is cast off maintaining the k1, p1 rib pattern for a stretchy, tidy edge

Materials – Yarn

The pattern is written specifically for Viking of Norway Bamboo yarn, a 6-ply weight yarn composed of 50% bamboo and 50% cotton, sold in 50 g skeins