Smula Sweater in Viking of Norway Kid Silk - Downloadable PDF

Smula Sweater in Viking Garn Kid Silk – Pattern Summary

The Smula Sweater is a beautifully delicate knitted pullover designed by Turid Stapnes and published by Viking of Norway under pattern number UK-2419-2. Worked in the luxurious Kid Silk yarn, this sweater achieves an elegant, lightweight drape that makes it a versatile wardrobe staple. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with shaping, working in the round, and reading chart diagrams.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a classic pullover sweater with set-in or seamless sleeves, a ribbed neckband, and a repeating lace or textured motif worked from a chart (Diagram I). The sweater is designed for a close-to-relaxed fit across a wide range of adult sizes, from x/small through xx/large, with chest measurements spanning 93 cm to 138 cm (approximately 36½ to 54¼ inches). The whole length ranges from 52 cm to 62 cm (20½ to 24½ inches), and sleeve length from 44 cm to 49 cm (17¼ to 19¼ inches), ensuring a proportional fit across all sizes.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls exclusively for Viking Kid Silk, a premium yarn composed of 77% Kid Mohair and 23% Silk, sold in 25 g skeins. The colourway specified is Light Blue no. 320. Skein requirements vary by size:

• X/Small and Small: 9 skeins
• Medium and Large: 10 skeins
• X/Large and XX/Large: 11 skeins

Kid Mohair and silk blends are prized in knitting for their extraordinary softness, subtle halo, and lightweight warmth. The silk content adds a gentle sheen and strengthens the yarn, improving stitch definition while retaining the characteristic airy quality of mohair. This fibre combination is particularly well suited to garments with delicate stitch patterns, as the halo softens the overall appearance and lends the finished sweater a refined, ethereal quality.

Needles

The neckband section specifies 4 mm needles, indicating that the main body of the sweater is likely worked on a slightly larger needle size to achieve the correct gauge and drape for the Kid Silk yarn. Knitters should check the tension/gauge swatch carefully before casting on, as mohair-silk blends can behave differently from standard wool yarns and may require needle adjustments to achieve the stated measurements.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Smula Sweater incorporates a range of knitting stitches and construction techniques appropriate for an intermediate-level knitter:

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch): Used as the primary fabric of the sweater body and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface.
• k1, p1 ribbing: Used for the neckband, providing stretch and a neat, professional finish at the collar. The neckband is worked to approximately 8 cm (3¼ inches) in depth.
• Charted pattern (Diagram I): A repeating motif, indicated by a symbol chart, is worked across the body of the sweater. The chart uses a v symbol repeated across multiple rows, suggesting a textured or lace-style pattern that adds visual interest to the fabric.
• Working in the round: The neckband is worked in rounds, and the construction method implies circular knitting is used for key sections of the garment.
• Decreasing: Evenly spaced decreases are worked at the transition to the neckband, reducing the stitch count to between 70 and 84 stitches depending on size, shaping the neckline smoothly.
• Casting off in pattern: The neckband is cast off following the established k1, p1 rib pattern to maintain elast