Bethany Ridge Sweater in West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Colours - DBP0068 - Downloadable PDF

Bethany Ridge Sweater – Pattern Summary

About This Pattern

The Bethany Ridge Sweater is a hand-knitting pattern designed by Sarah Hatton, available as a downloadable PDF. It is classified as an intermediate-level knitting project, making it a rewarding challenge for knitters who are comfortable with core techniques and ready to expand their skills. The finished garment is a classic sweater or jumper, designed to be a timeless wardrobe staple with a beautifully textured aesthetic.

Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Colours

This pattern is specifically written for West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Colours, an aran weight yarn made from 100% Shetland wool. Each hank contains 166 metres (182 yards) and weighs 100g. The yarn is produced in collaboration with the renowned Jamieson & Smith of Lerwick, the primary purchasers of the Shetland wool clip, ensuring authentic provenance and exceptional quality.

Shetland wool is celebrated worldwide for its fineness, warmth, and strength. The high levels of natural crimp and wave in the fleece make it particularly well suited to hand knitting, offering both softness and durability in the finished fabric. The Croft Shetland Colours collection presents a range of twelve timeless solid shades, each named after towns and villages across the Shetland Islands — including Norwick, Belmont, Fetlar, Ollaberry, Voxter, Sullom, Huxter, Melby, Laxfirth, Bixter, Lerwick, Tresta, Seafield, and Quendale. These rustic, classic tones are designed to work beautifully on their own or paired with the West Yorkshire Spinners tweed collection.

Needles and Tension

The pattern calls for 5mm (US size 8) knitting needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for a well-fitting finished sweater. The recommended tension is 18 stitches over 10cm / 4 inches in the stitch pattern used, measured over a blocked swatch. Knitters are advised to reshape the garment whilst damp and to avoid tumble drying, in keeping with the care requirements of 100% wool fabric.

Techniques and Stitches

As an intermediate-level knitting pattern, the Bethany Ridge Sweater incorporates a combination of classic and textural knitting techniques. The name "Ridge" suggests the use of ridge or textured stitch patterns, which are characteristic of traditional Shetland-inspired knitwear. Techniques typically employed in garments of this style and difficulty level include:

• Knit and purl combinations to create surface texture and the signature ridge effect
• Shaping techniques such as increases and decreases for the sleeves, neckline, and body silhouette
• Working in the round or flat construction methods appropriate to sweater construction
• Seaming and finishing to assemble the garment pieces into a polished final sweater

Design Aesthetic and Heritage

The Bethany Ridge Sweater reflects Sarah Hatton's signature approach to knitwear design — combining modern sensibility with a deep respect for traditional craft. The use of The Croft Shetland Colours yarn connects the garment to the rich cultural heritage of the Shetland Islands, where the practice of crofting — a rural agricultural tradition of rearing native sheep and collecting their wool — has shaped communities, landscapes, and livelihoods for generations. Knitting this sweater is not only a creative endeavour but a connection to one of Britain's most storied textile traditions.

Important Usage Note

This pattern is for personal, non-commercial use only. The knitwear design is copyrighted by Sarah Hatton and must not be knitted for resale. Reproduction of the pattern for resale is strictly prohibited.