Finlay Sweater in West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Wild Shetland - WYS0020 - Downloadable PDF

Finlay Sweater by Sarah Hatton in West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Wild Shetland – Pattern Summary

About This Design

The Finlay Sweater is a beautifully crafted hand-knitted sweater designed by Sarah Hatton, one of the UK's most celebrated knitwear designers. Published as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it an ideal project for knitters who have moved beyond the basics and are ready to tackle a more structured, shaped garment. The sweater is knitted in a classic, timeless style that draws its character from the rugged natural landscapes of the Shetland Islands.

The Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Wild Shetland Aran Roving

This pattern is specifically written for West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Wild Shetland Aran Roving, a yarn created in association with Jamieson & Smith, a name synonymous with authentic Shetland wool. The yarn is made from 100% Shetland wool, celebrated worldwide for its exceptional fineness, natural warmth, and impressive strength. The Aran Roving construction gives the yarn a wonderfully rustic, textured quality that adds depth and character to finished knitwear.

The Wild Shetland shade collection is inspired by the ever-changing colours of the Shetland Islands' dramatic wilderness. Each shade is lovingly blended to reflect the natural tones of this breathtaking location. The four shades available in this collection are:

• Fired Earth (shade 792)
• Rolling Hills (shade 793)
• Stormy Skies (shade 791)
• Turning Tides (shade 790)

Each colourway evokes a distinct aspect of the Shetland landscape, from warm earthy tones to cool, moody blues and greens, allowing knitters to personalise the feel of their finished sweater.

Needles and Tension

The pattern calls for 5mm (US 8) needles, which are the standard recommendation for an aran weight yarn of this type. Achieving the correct tension is essential to ensure the finished garment matches the intended sizing and drape. The stated tension is 22 stitches and 28 rows over 10cm, measured over the main stitch pattern. Knitters are strongly advised to work a tension swatch before beginning the project, adjusting needle size up or down as needed to match this gauge precisely.

Techniques and Construction

The Finlay Sweater is a knitted sweater constructed using techniques appropriate for an intermediate-level knitter. The pattern includes both raglan sleeve and semi set-in sleeve construction references, indicating a carefully shaped garment with structured armhole and sleeve detailing. Key construction and finishing techniques referenced in the pattern include:

• Raglan sleeve seaming – worked row for row using mattress stitch for a neat, professional finish
• Semi set-in sleeve setting – the centre of the sleeve cast-off is matched to the shoulder of the body, with the sleeve eased carefully into the armhole
• Mattress stitch seaming – the recommended method for joining all seams, producing an invisible, flat join on the right side of the fabric
• Blocking – an essential finishing step in which the completed garment is pinned to the correct measurements, covered with damp cloths, and left to dry, allowing the natural Shetland wool fibres to bloom and settle into shape

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a range of standard knitting stitches and techniques, including:

• Stocking stitch (st-st) – the classic knit-on-right-side, purl-on-wrong-side fabric that forms the smooth, even main body of the sweater
• Knit (k) and purl (p) stitches – the fundamental building blocks of the fabric
• Increases and decreases – used to shape the sleeves, armholes, and neckline, giving the sweater its structured silhouette
• Slip stitch (