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Sambuca
£7.14
Downloadable PDF
2 Select Colors
Lana Grossa Cool Wool Big
Anthrazit (618)
Out of stock — not added to kit
× £6.49
Lana Grossa Cool Wool Big
Hellgrün (941)
Out of stock — not added to kit
× £6.49
Lana Grossa Cool Wool Big
Pistazie (927)
Out of stock — not added to kit
× £6.49
Lana Grossa Cool Wool Big
Hellgrau Meliert (616)
Out of stock — not added to kit
× £6.49
3 Accessories
Product Description
Sambuca is a way to ease into a bit of colorwork. I wanted the fun of fairisle without a tangle of ends or fear of steeking. With that in mind, Sambuca features a motif that combines only 2 colors at a time, and a great deal of basic stockinette. It’s the perfect way to get your feet wet in the world of stranded knitting. With a feminine neckline, a loose fit, and a deep back panel, it’s a flattering sweater that’s just a bit reminiscent of ski slopes without being overly Nordic. The wool/alpaca content of the yarn creates a warm but light fabric with just the right amount of drape for a delicate, slouchy fit. Sample is shown in Valley Yarns Stockbridge, this yarn comes in a ton of gorgeous colors, at a bargain price. Substitute with a yarn of a similar make up. Using yarns with a bargain price makes it easy to justify, right? The three contrast colours need 50-70 yards of yarn.
Sambuca Sweater by BabyCocktails
What is Being Made
Sambuca is a knitted pullover sweater designed as an accessible introduction to stranded colorwork knitting. This advanced-level design features a feminine neckline, loose fit, and deep back panel that creates a flattering, slightly slouchy silhouette. The sweater combines the visual interest of fairisle-inspired colorwork with the simplicity of stranded knitting, avoiding the complexity of managing multiple yarn ends or the need for steeking techniques.
Design Features and Fit
The sweater is characterized by a sophisticated aesthetic that draws subtle inspiration from ski slopes without embracing overtly Nordic styling. The feminine neckline and generous fit make this design flattering across different body types. The deep back panel adds visual interest and dimension to the garment's construction. The loose, slouchy fit is enhanced by the yarn's natural drape, creating an elegant, relaxed silhouette.
Colorwork Technique
Sambuca employs stranded knitting colorwork in a beginner-friendly approach. Rather than juggling multiple colors throughout, the pattern uses a motif system that combines only 2 colors at a time. This strategic design choice significantly reduces the complexity typically associated with fairisle knitting. Large sections of single-color stockinette stitch provide visual breathing room and make the project manageable for knitters new to stranded techniques, eliminating the tangled ends and steek anxiety that often deters colorwork beginners.
Stitches Used
- Stockinette stitch – forms the foundation of the sweater, used extensively throughout for both solid-color sections and as the base for colorwork
- Stranded knitting – the primary colorwork technique, carrying two colors per row to create the fairisle-inspired motifs
Yarn and Materials
Sambuca is designed for Valley Yarns Stockbridge, a wool and alpaca blend yarn that produces a warm yet lightweight fabric with excellent drape. The yarn is available in multiple colorways and offers exceptional value at less than $5 per skein from WEBS.
Yardage Requirements:
- Main Color: 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, or 1800 yards depending on size
- Contrast Colors: 50–75 yards each of 3 different colors
- Yarn weight: DK to worsted
- Yardage per skein: 109 yards
The pattern sample is shown in Dark Gray as the main color, with Light Gray and additional contrast colors creating the stranded colorwork motifs.
Skill Level
This pattern is rated as advanced, though it is specifically designed to serve as an entry point into stranded colorwork for experienced knitters. Familiarity with basic sweater construction and fundamental knitting techniques is assumed. The advanced designation reflects the colorwork element rather than complex shaping or stitch patterns.
Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | DK, Worsted |
| Featured Products: | Lana Grossa Cool Wool Big |
| Pages: | 5 |
| Designer: | BabyCocktails/Thea Colman |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Advanced |
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