Uppbót Cardigan in LOPI Álafosslopi

Uppbót Cardigan in Álafosslopi – Pattern Summary

The Uppbót Cardigan is a beautifully crafted knitted cardigan designed by LOPIDESIGN.is and worked in Álafosslopi, the iconic Icelandic chunky-weight yarn from LOPI. The name Uppbót translates loosely to "benefit" or "improvement," and the design draws direct inspiration from the classic sweater Bót, with a mood and aesthetic rooted in life by the sea. This is an intermediate-level knitting pattern available as a downloadable PDF, making it accessible to confident knitters who are ready to work with colorwork and seamless yoke construction.

What Is Being Made

The Uppbót is a traditional-style Icelandic cardigan featuring a seamless yoke construction, set-in sleeves joined at the yoke, and a structured colorwork panel worked from a chart. It is designed in five sizes: S, M, L, XL, and 2XL, with the following finished measurements:

• Chest circumference: 90 (99, 104, 112, 118) cm
• Length to underarm: 26 (27, 28, 29, 30) cm
• Sleeve length to underarm: 45 (46, 47, 48, 49) cm

The cardigan is worked in the round on a circular needle, with the body and sleeves constructed separately before being joined at the yoke — a hallmark of classic Icelandic lopapeysa-style construction adapted here for a cardigan format.

Construction and Techniques

The Uppbót Cardigan uses a number of well-established knitting techniques that make it a rewarding project for intermediate knitters:

• Seamless yoke construction: The body and sleeves are worked separately to the underarm, then joined on a single circular needle to work the yoke in one piece. This eliminates the need for seaming and creates a smooth, continuous fabric.
• Underarm stitch holders: Stitches at the underarm — 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts on each sleeve and a corresponding section of the body — are placed on stitch holders and grafted or joined later, a technique common in seamless garment construction.
• Colorwork from a chart: The yoke features a traditional colorwork pattern worked from Chart 1, using multiple colors of Álafosslopi carried across the row. This stranded colorwork technique is central to the Icelandic knitting tradition.
• Sleeve shaping with even increases: Sleeve stitches are increased evenly spaced as the sleeve progresses toward the yoke. Sizes S, L, and 2XL increase by 3 stitches; sizes M and XL increase by 5 stitches, demonstrating careful size-specific shaping.
• Working from a stitch pattern chart: Knitters follow a charted stitch pattern for the colorwork section, requiring familiarity with reading knitting charts — a key intermediate skill.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K) – the primary stitch used throughout the body, sleeves, and yoke
• Purl stitch (P) – referenced at the beginning of the right front section when joining for the yoke
• Stranded colorwork – multiple yarn colors carried simultaneously across rows to create the traditional patterned yoke
• Even-spaced increases – used along the sleeves to shape the upper arm before joining at the yoke

Materials – Yarn

The Uppbót Cardigan is designed specifically for Álafosslopi by LOPI, a 100% Icelandic wool yarn sold in 100 g balls and classified as a chunky weight. Álafosslopi is renowned for its warmth, lightness, and the characteristic halo of Icelandic wool, making it ideal for traditional colorwork garments. The pattern calls for two distinct colorways:

Light Colorway