Sweaters and Hats in West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaced Leicester Naturals DK - Downloadable PDF

Sweaters and Hats in West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaced Leicester Naturals DK – Pattern Collection by Jenny Watson

This downloadable PDF pattern collection, Collection Two by designer Jenny Watson, brings together a set of classic, versatile knitting designs worked in West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaced Leicester Naturals DK yarn. The collection is rated intermediate in difficulty and includes three distinct variations of a sweater design alongside a coordinating hat, giving knitters the flexibility to choose a style that suits their personal taste. All designs are worked in knitting, with clean, timeless silhouettes that showcase the natural beauty of Bluefaced Leicester wool.

About the Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaced Leicester Naturals DK

All garments in this collection are knitted using West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaced Leicester Naturals DK yarn. This is a DK weight yarn sourced from Bluefaced Leicester sheep, a British breed renowned for producing a fine, lustrous, and naturally soft fleece. The Naturals range celebrates undyed, breed-specific shades, meaning the colours are entirely natural rather than commercially dyed. Three natural shades are used across the collection:

• Shade 001 Natural Ecru – a soft, creamy off-white tone
• Shade 002 Natural Light Brown – a warm, earthy light brown
• Shade 003 Natural Brown – a deeper, richer natural brown

These undyed shades work harmoniously together, making the striped and colour-detail variations particularly effective without the need for artificial dyes. Bluefaced Leicester DK is well suited to garments worn close to the body, as the fibre is notably softer and less scratchy than many other British wool breeds.

Needles and Tension

The patterns are worked on 4mm knitting needles, or the size required to achieve the stated tension. The correct tension is 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10cm (4 inches) over stocking stitch on 4mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is emphasised as essential to ensure the finished garment matches the intended measurements. Knitters are advised to adjust needle size accordingly: move to finer needles if fewer stitches and rows than stated are achieved per 10cm, or to larger needles if more stitches and rows are achieved.

Sizing and Measurements

The sweater patterns are written to fit a range of bust sizes, making them accessible to a wide variety of knitters:

• To fit bust: 71–76 cm, 81–86 cm, 91–97 cm, 102–107 cm, and 112–117 cm (28–30 in up to 44–46 in)
• Actual chest measurement: 97 cm, 104 cm, 117 cm, 127 cm, and 135 cm
• Full length (approximately): 51 cm to 63 cm depending on size
• Sleeve length (approximately): 43 cm to 50 cm depending on size

The hat is sized to fit an average ladies' head. Instructions are given for the smallest size first, with larger sizes provided in square brackets throughout the pattern text.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The collection uses a focused set of classic knitting stitches and techniques, making it well suited to an intermediate knitter looking to build confidence with shaping and colourwork:

• Stocking Stitch (St-St): The primary fabric stitch used throughout the sweater bodies and sleeves. Worked by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, stocking stitch creates a smooth, flat fabric on the knit side that is ideal for showcasing natural yarn tones and colourwork motifs.
• 2x2 Rib: Used for welts, cuffs, and hat bands. This is worked by alternating two knit stitches with two purl stitches across the row, creating a stretchy, structured fabric that helps garments hold their shape at the edges. The 2x2 rib pattern is defined in the pattern with specific row-by-row instructions.
• Stripes: Featured in the Striped Sweater with Heart variation, stripes are created by alternating between the Main Shade and Contrast Shade yarns at regular row intervals