Irish Delight

Irish Delight Knitted Sweater by Sandy Schultz

What Is Being Made

Irish Delight is a knitted sweater designed by Sandy Schultz as an intermediate-level knitting project. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for creating a classic pullover sweater available in eight different sizes, ranging from 32 inches to 46 inches in chest circumference (81 to 117 centimeters). The pattern includes finished measurements and yarn requirements for each size option, making it adaptable to various body measurements and fit preferences.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This sweater employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques suited to the intermediate difficulty level. The primary stitch used throughout the garment is stocking stitch (also known as stockinette stitch), which creates the smooth, classic fabric texture characteristic of traditional sweaters. The pattern also incorporates cable stitches, as indicated by the inclusion of cable needle abbreviations in the instructions, adding visual interest and textural depth to the design.

Key stitches and abbreviations used in the Irish Delight pattern include:

• Knit (k) - the fundamental knit stitch
• Purl (p) - the reverse of the knit stitch, used to create texture variation
• Cable needle (cn) - used to create cable stitch patterns by temporarily holding stitches
• Slip, knit, pass (skp) - a decrease technique for shaping the garment
• Place marker (pm) and slip marker (sm) - used to track pattern sections and increases/decreases

The combination of stocking stitch with cable work creates a sweater with both smooth areas and dimensional cable textures, typical of Irish-inspired knit designs.

Materials and Gauge

Irish Delight is designed to be knitted with worsted weight yarn, specifically Plymouth Galway Highland Heathers (Colour 1497), which is composed of 100% wool. This natural fiber choice provides warmth, elasticity, and durability ideal for a sweater project.

The pattern requires two sizes of straight needles to achieve the correct gauge:

• Size 4mm (US6) needles - used for ribbed sections and initial setup
• Size 4.5mm (US7) needles - used for the main body of the sweater

The working gauge is 20 stitches and 26 rows in stocking stitch over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when using the 4.5mm needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements specified in the pattern.

Yarn Requirements by Size

Yarn quantities vary based on the finished chest measurement desired. The pattern provides estimates for all eight sizes:

• Size 32 inches (81cm): approximately 1100 yards (1000 meters)
• Size 34 inches (86cm): approximately 1200 yards (1100 meters)
• Size 36 inches (91cm): approximately 1300 yards (1200 meters)
• Size 38 inches (96cm): approximately 1400 yards (1300 meters)
• Size 40 inches (102cm): approximately 1400 yards (1300 meters)
• Size 42 inches (107cm): approximately 1500 yards (1400 meters)
• Size 44 inches (112cm): approximately 1600 yards (1500 meters)
• Size 46 inches (117cm): approximately 1600 yards (1500 meters)

These quantities are estimates based on average specifications and may vary depending on the desired finished length and individual knitting tension. The sweater featured in the pattern photographs is the size 36 inch version (91 centimeters).