Wildwoods Sweater

Wildwoods Sweater by Kristen Finlay

What is Being Made

The Wildwoods Sweater is a cosy, oversized knit sweater featuring a delicate lace yoke. Designed by Kristen Finlay, this garment combines comfort with elegant detailing, making it an ideal project for knitters seeking a balance between visual interest and straightforward construction. The sweater is characterized by minimal shaping and simple design elements that allow for a fast and manageable knitting experience.

Construction Method and Techniques

This sweater is knit top-down, a construction technique that begins at the neckline and progresses downward toward the hem. This approach offers several advantages, including the ability to try on the garment as you work and the flexibility to adjust length easily. The top-down method combined with minimal shaping results in a streamlined project that does not require complex decreasing or increasing sequences throughout the body.

The defining design feature is the delicate lace yoke, which adds visual sophistication to the upper portion of the sweater. This lace detailing provides an elegant contrast to the simplicity of the body construction.

Stitches Used

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the provided pattern excerpt, the Wildwoods Sweater incorporates lace stitches in the yoke section. The pattern also includes ribbing at the cuffs and hem, which provides elasticity and a finished appearance. The body of the sweater is worked in stockinette stitch, the fundamental knit fabric that creates a smooth, classic texture.

Finished Measurements and Sizing

The Wildwoods Sweater is available in five sizes with finished bust circumferences of 40, 45.6, 54.1, 59.7, and 68.2 inches (101.6, 115.8, 137.4, 151.6, and 173.2 centimeters). The sample garment measures 45.6 inches (101.5 centimeters) at the bust and is modeled on a 34-inch (86-centimeter) bust, demonstrating the positive ease built into the design for a relaxed, comfortable fit.

Yarn and Materials

The Wildwoods Sweater is designed to showcase Nest, a brand-new mohair wool blend yarn consisting of 70% mohair and 30% wool. This yarn is available in 50-gram skeins with 142 yards (130 meters) per skein. The yardage requirements are 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 skeins respectively for the five sizes. The sample sweater shown is worked in the Kalamon colorway.

For knitters unable to source Nest yarn, the pattern provides a substitution option: combine a skein of Mohair Silk Lace held together with a fingering weight yarn. Using this alternative method, you will need approximately 3, 3, 4, 4, and 5 skeins of each base yarn respectively across the size range.

Needles and Tools

The Wildwoods Sweater requires 5mm (US 8) needles for the main body of the sweater and 4mm (US 6) needles for ribbed sections, which typically measure 5 to 12 inches (12.7 to 30.5 centimeters) in length. Additional tools needed include stitch holders, stitch markers, and removable stitch markers to track pattern repeats and manage stitches during construction.

Difficulty Level

The Wildwoods Sweater is rated as an intermediate knitting project. While the overall construction is simple and straightforward, the inclusion of lace stitches in the yoke requires familiarity with lace knitting techniques such as yarn overs and decreases. This makes the pattern suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to expand their technical repertoire.

Yarn Weight and Fiber Properties

Worked in DK (double knit) weight yarn, the Wildwoods Sweater creates a fabric with excellent drape and fluidity. The mohair wool blend provides softness, warmth, and a subtle halo effect characteristic of mohair fibers, while the wool content adds durability and structure. This fiber combination is particularly well-suited to lace patterns, as the halo created by mohair fibers softens the edges of lace motifs.