Family Sweaters in Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed with Wool - 7989 - Downloadable PDF

Family Sweaters in Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed with Wool – Pattern 7989

Pattern 7989 from Hayfield is a comprehensive knitting pattern offering four coordinating family sweater designs all worked in Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed with Wool. The collection is designed to fit a wide range of sizes, covering chest and bust measurements from 61/66 cm (24/26 in) through to 112/117 cm (44/46 in), making it a true family pattern suitable for children and adults alike. All four sweaters share the same classic Aran-weight construction and cable-rich aesthetic, differing primarily in their neckline treatments and styling details.

The Four Designs at a Glance

Round Neck Sweater

The first design in the collection is a classic round neck sweater, knitted in Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed shade 681. This timeless silhouette features a neat, fitted neckline that suits all ages and makes it one of the most versatile pieces in the family set. The round neck finish is typically achieved by picking up stitches around the neckline and working a neat ribbed neckband.

V Neck Sweater

The second design offers a V neck sweater worked in Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed shade 680. The V-shaped neckline adds a slightly more formal or layering-friendly look, making it ideal for wearing over shirts or as a standalone piece. The V neck shaping requires careful decreasing at the centre front to create a clean, symmetrical point.

Wrap Neck Sweater

The third design introduces a wrap neck sweater knitted in Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed shade 929. The wrap neck is a distinctive and fashionable neckline variation that adds visual interest and a relaxed, draped quality to the finished garment. This style stands out within the family collection as the most contemporary of the four designs.

Hooded Sweater

The fourth and final design is a hooded sweater worked in Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed shade 696. The addition of a hood makes this the most casual and practical design in the set, particularly well suited to children or anyone who prefers a sporty, cosy finish. Hoods in knitting are typically constructed by picking up stitches around the neckline and working upward, then seaming the top edge.

Construction and Techniques

All four sweaters in pattern 7989 are worked flat in separate pieces — back, front, and sleeves — and then seamed together. A defining structural feature shared across all designs is the raglan sleeve shaping, which creates a smooth, diagonal decrease line running from the underarm to the neckline. This shaping is both functional and decorative, and it is a hallmark of classic knitwear construction.

The raglan shaping is worked using a combination of techniques. At the beginning of the armhole, stitches are cast off at each side to set the underarm. Subsequent rows use paired decreases — specifically slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (s1, k1, psso) on the right side and knit 2 together (k2tog) at the opposite end, with corresponding purl 2 together (p2tog) and purl 2 together through back loop (p2togtbl) decreases on wrong-side rows. This creates neat, mirrored decrease lines on both sides of each raglan seam. Remaining stitches at the top of each piece are placed on stitch holders to be worked into the neckline finishing.

Stitch Patterns and Cable Work

The sweaters feature a cable panel as the centrepiece of the design. The cable panel spans 58 stitches and measures 24 cm (9½ in) in width, making it a substantial and visually striking feature. Cable knitting involves crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle, creating the characteristic twisted rope and lattice effects that are synonymous with Aran knitwear. A cable needle is listed as a required tool for this pattern.

Beyond the cable panel, the fabric incorporates a combination of knit and purl stitches to create the textured ground fabric typical