Woman’s Xmas Sweater in Hayfield DK with Wool - 7365 - Downloadable PDF

Woman's Xmas Sweater in Hayfield DK with Wool – Pattern 7365

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Hayfield provides full instructions for a Woman's Christmas Sweater worked in Hayfield DK with Wool yarn. The design is a classic festive pullover featuring a bold intarsia colourwork motif on the body, making it a standout seasonal knit suitable for a wide range of sizes. The pattern is graded across six sizes to fit bust measurements from 81/86 cm (32/34 in) up to 132/137 cm (52/54 in), with actual finished measurements ranging from 92 cm (36¼ in) to 143 cm (56¼ in), giving a comfortable, relaxed fit at every size.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's long-sleeved Christmas sweater (jumper) with set-in sleeves and a shaped body. Full lengths range from approximately 60 cm (23¾ in) to 73 cm (28¾ in) depending on size, and sleeve lengths run from 46 cm to 48 cm (18 in to 19 in), noted as adjustable so knitters can personalise the fit. The sweater is designed to be a wearable, eye-catching festive piece, ideal for the holiday season.

Colourwork Design and Intarsia Technique

The standout feature of this pattern is its intarsia colourwork panel, which spans 75 stitches across the centre of the body and is worked from a chart included in the PDF. Intarsia is a knitting technique used to create distinct blocks or pictorial motifs in multiple colours without carrying yarn across the back of the work. Instead, a separate ball of yarn is used for each colour area, and the colours are twisted around one another at each colour join to link them neatly and prevent holes. This method keeps the fabric single-thickness and drape-friendly, making it well suited to a wearable garment like a sweater.

The colourwork chart is worked over a substantial number of rows — up to 104–120 rows depending on size — and continues through the armhole shaping, requiring the knitter to maintain pattern continuity while simultaneously working shaping decreases. This makes the pattern best suited to knitters with some colourwork experience, though confident beginners willing to learn intarsia will find the chart-based instructions a rewarding introduction to the technique.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stocking stitch (st-st): The main fabric of the sweater body and sleeves is worked in stocking stitch — knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows — giving a smooth, classic surface that showcases the colourwork motif clearly.
• Garter stitch: Used in sections of the pattern (likely for welts, cuffs, or neckband), garter stitch is formed by knitting every row, producing a ridged, stretchy fabric. The tension for garter stitch is given separately at 22 sts and 42 rows to 10 cm on 3¼ mm needles.
• Intarsia colourwork: As described above, this technique creates the central Christmas motif using four colours worked from a chart.
• Armhole shaping: Set-in sleeve shaping is worked through a series of decrease rows, with the number of rows varying by size (5–7 rows at the armhole opening).
• Increasing and decreasing: Standard knitting increases and decreases are used throughout for garment shaping.
• Stitch holders: Stitches are placed on holders at key points such as the neckline, a common technique for managing live stitches while other sections are completed.

Materials – Yarn

The pattern calls for Hayfield DK with Wool, a double knitting (DK) weight yarn, used in four colours:

• Colour A – Shade 109: The main colour, requiring 3 to 5 x 100g balls depending on size (3 balls for the smallest size, 5 balls for the largest).
• Colour B – Shade 110: A contrast colour, requiring 1 x 100g ball across all sizes.