Leader Sweater in Viking Of Norway Alpaca Storm - UK-2307-2 - Downloadable PDF

Leader Sweater in Viking Garn Alpaca Storm – Pattern Summary (UK-2307-2)

The Leader Sweater is a beautifully crafted knitted pullover designed by Turid Stapnes and published by Viking of Norway. Worked in the luxurious Viking Garn Alpaca Storm yarn, this intermediate-level pattern produces a stylish, patterned sweater with a classic Scandinavian aesthetic. The downloadable PDF pattern reference is UK-2307-2.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a full pullover sweater, knitted in the round, featuring an all-over colourwork motif. The garment is designed to be worked in a main colour alongside a natural white contrast colour, producing a striking two-tone patterned fabric. The sweater is available in five sizes, offering a generous range of fits:

• Sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
• Circumference: 100 – 110 – 120 – 130 – 140 cm (39½ – 43¼ – 47¼ – 51¼ – 55 in)
• Whole length: 74 – 76 – 78 – 80 – 80 cm (29¼ – 30 – 30¾ – 31½ – 31½ in)
• Sleeve length: 42 – 44 – 46 – 46 – 46 cm (16½ – 17¼ – 18 – 18 – 18 in)

Construction Method

The Leader Sweater is knitted in the round throughout, which is a hallmark of traditional Scandinavian sweater construction. Working in the round eliminates the need for seaming on the body and sleeves, creating a smooth, uninterrupted surface that is ideal for showcasing colourwork patterns. The body is worked in the round from the cast-on edge upward, with the colourwork diagram introduced after the initial ribbing section. The sleeves are also worked in the round on the appropriate needle size.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round – the entire body and sleeves are worked circularly, a technique well-suited to stranded colourwork
• Stranded colourwork / Fair Isle-style knitting – the pattern features Diagram A, a repeating motif worked in two colours across the full circumference of the body and sleeves
• Ribbing – the cuffs and presumably the hem are worked in k1, p1 ribbing for approximately 3 cm (1¼ in), providing a neat, stretchy edging
• Even increases – stitches are increased evenly on the second round of the sleeve to achieve the correct stitch count before beginning the colourwork diagram
• Stocking stitch – two rounds of plain stocking stitch are worked on the sleeves before the colourwork begins, helping to establish an even fabric base

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette) – the primary stitch used throughout the body and sleeves, forming the background of the colourwork fabric
• K1, P1 ribbing – used at the cuffs and lower edges to create a firm, elastic border
• Stranded colourwork stitches – knit stitches worked alternately in two colours following Diagram A, with floats carried across the wrong side of the fabric

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The pattern is designed specifically for Viking Garn Alpaca Storm, a premium DK-weight yarn with a sophisticated fibre blend:

• Fibre composition: 40% Superfine Alpaca, 40% Merino Wool, 20% Nylon
• Ball weight: 50 g skeins

The blend of superfine alpaca and merino wool