Samhald Sweater in Viking Of Norway - UK-2316-42 - Downloadable PDF

Samhald Sweater in Viking Garn – Pattern Summary (UK-2316-42)

The Samhald Sweater is a beautifully structured pullover designed by Turid Stapnes and published by Viking of Norway. This intermediate-level knitting pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and produces a classic raglan-yoke sweater with a ribbed neckband, worked in the round from the bottom up. The design is elegant in its construction and well-suited to knitters who are comfortable with circular knitting, raglan shaping, and basic decreases.

What Is Being Made

The finished object is a fitted pullover sweater with raglan sleeve shaping and a ribbed neckband. It is available in six sizes, making it a versatile pattern for a wide range of body types:

• Sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large
• Chest circumference: 85 – 96 – 107 – 117 – 128 – 139 cm (33½ – 37¾ – 42¼ – 46 – 50½ – 54¾ in)
• Whole length: 65 – 66 – 67 – 68 – 69 – 70 cm (25½ – 26 – 26½ – 26¾ – 27¾ – 27½ in)
• Sleeve length: 44 – 45 – 46 – 47 – 48 – 48 cm (17¼ – 17¾ – 18 – 18½ – 19 – 19 in)

The sweater is designed to be a wearable, everyday garment with a clean silhouette, making it suitable for both casual and smart-casual occasions. The raglan construction gives the shoulders a smooth, seamless line, while the ribbed neckband adds a polished, traditional finish.

Construction and Techniques

The Samhald Sweater is knitted in the round, a technique that eliminates the need for seaming and creates a smooth, continuous fabric. This approach is particularly well-suited to the raglan yoke construction, where all pieces — body and sleeves — are eventually joined and worked together toward the neckline.

Raglan Shaping

The defining structural feature of this sweater is its raglan yoke. Raglan shaping involves working paired decreases at four evenly spaced points around the yoke — one at each of the four joins between the body and the two sleeves. This creates the characteristic diagonal lines that run from the underarm to the neckline. In the Samhald Sweater, the raglan decreases are worked as follows:

• Work to 2 stitches before the first marker, then slip 1, k1, pass slipped stitch over (psso)
• Follow immediately with a k2tog (knit two together)
• This paired decrease is repeated at all four joins
• Decreases are worked every round for 0 – 0 – 2 – 2 – 4 – 6 times (depending on size), then every 2nd round until the required stitch count is reached
• Final stitch counts at the top of the yoke: 64 – 72 – 76 – 76 – 80 – 80 stitches in the round
• Total raglan decrease rounds: 18 – 20 – 22 – 25 – 27 – 30 rounds

Understanding raglan shaping is one of the key skills this pattern develops. The psso and k2tog decreases lean in opposite directions, creating a mirrored, symmetrical effect at each join — a hallmark of well-executed raglan construction.

Neckband

Once the raglan shaping is complete, the pattern transitions to the neckband. The instructions specify switching to a 5 mm needle and working in cerise (a vivid pinkish-red colour), adding a striking colourful accent to the neckline. The neckband construction proceeds as follows:

• Work 2 rounds of st