Pagan Sky

Pagan Sky Knitted Sweater by zaneteknits

What is Being Made

Pagan Sky is a seamlessly knitted sweater designed by zaneteknits, inspired by Latvian folklore and ancient mythological symbolism. This intermediate-level garment features colorwork incorporating traditional Latvian characters and signs, including the sign of Dievs (God), the feminine symbol of Saule (Sun), and the cross of Māra. The sweater celebrates the cultural significance of these ancient Latvian signs of strength and their energetic meaning within the context of Latvian mythology, where the sky is revered as the oldest deity of the cult of light and the roof of the world.

Construction Method

The sweater is worked seamlessly in the round from the top down, creating a continuous garment without seams. This construction technique allows for a smooth, integrated fit and eliminates the need for finishing seams after completion.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Provisional cast-on – allows for later grafting or picking up stitches
• Backwards loop cast-on – a flexible casting method for specific sections
• Left-leaning and right-leaning increases – directional shaping for structured garment shaping
• Tubular bind-off – creates a professional, elastic edge finish
• Trapping floats – secures loose strands on the back of colorwork to prevent snagging
• Short rows – adds shaping and dimension to the garment
• Colorwork – multi-color patterning requiring careful tension management

Stitches and Stitch Work

The pattern employs colorwork techniques with stranded knitting, where multiple colors are carried across rows to create the Latvian character motifs. Maintaining consistent tension across floats is essential to prevent puckering and ensure the pattern displays clearly on the finished garment.

Yarn and Materials

The sweater is knitted using alpaca yarn in aran and DK yarn weights, providing warmth and softness. The colorwork is accented with amber-toned Latvian characters that stand out against the base yarn color. Additional materials include a crochet hook for provisional cast-on setup, smooth waste yarn (such as cotton) for temporary stitches, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a row counter for keeping track of progress, a stitch holder for managing live stitches, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and grafting sections together.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate, suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle seamless construction, colorwork techniques, and advanced finishing methods such as tubular bind-off and float trapping.