Finlay Sweater in West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Tweed - DBP0060 - Downloadable PDF

Finlay Sweater Knitting Pattern by Sarah Hatton in West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Tweed

The Finlay Sweater is a classic, wearable knitted sweater designed by Sarah Hatton as part of a collection created specifically to complement West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Tweed yarn. This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated as an intermediate level knitting project, making it an excellent choice for knitters who have moved beyond the basics and are ready to tackle a fully shaped, structured garment with confidence.

About the Design

The Finlay Sweater is described as practical yet distinctive, reflecting the ethos of the broader collection that Sarah Hatton developed around the unique character of Shetland tweed yarn. The design draws inspiration from the rich crofting heritage of the Shetland Islands, where generations of skilled wool production have created a fibre tradition that is deeply woven into the cultural and agricultural identity of the region. The sweater is designed to showcase the subtle, sophisticated tweed colourway of the yarn, allowing the intricate colour fusions within the fibre itself to become a key design feature.

Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Tweed

This pattern is specifically written for West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Tweed, an Aran weight yarn spun from 100% Shetland wool. Each hank contains 100g and approximately 166 metres (182 yards). The yarn is produced in association with Jamieson & Smith of Shetland, a name synonymous with authentic Shetland fibre production.

Shetland wool is globally recognised for its exceptional qualities:

• Fineness and softness — The Croft is noted for its soft and silky handle, making it comfortable to wear close to the skin.
• Warmth and strength — High levels of crimp and wave in the Shetland fleece trap air efficiently, providing excellent insulation without excessive weight.
• Durability — Despite its softness, the yarn retains considerable durability, making it well suited to hardwearing everyday garments like sweaters.
• Tweed effect — West Yorkshire Spinners invested in state-of-the-art dyeing machinery to produce a distinctive tweed effect with intricate colour fusions that are subtle yet sophisticated, giving the finished fabric a depth and texture that plain yarns cannot achieve.

The yarn carries the care instruction to reshape whilst damp and must not be tumble dried, which is typical guidance for 100% wool garments to preserve their shape and fibre integrity.

Needles

The Finlay Sweater is knitted using 5mm needles (US size 8). Knitters should always work a tension swatch before beginning the project to ensure accurate sizing and fit.

Tension

The stated tension for this pattern is 18 stitches over 10cm / 4 inches on 5mm needles in stocking stitch (or the relevant pattern stitch). Achieving the correct tension is especially important in a sweater construction, as even small deviations can significantly affect the finished dimensions of the garment.

Techniques and Stitches

As an intermediate knitting pattern, the Finlay Sweater is likely to incorporate a range of standard sweater construction techniques. Knitters working at this level will typically be comfortable with:

• Knit and purl stitches — the foundation of most sweater fabrics, used to create stocking stitch for the main body panels and reverse stocking stitch or textured details where applicable.
• Rib stitch — commonly used for welts, cuffs, and neckbands in Aran weight sweaters to create elasticated, neat edges that hold their shape over time.
• Shaping techniques — including increases and decreases to shape the armholes, sleeves, and neckline, which are hallmarks of an intermediate-level construction.
• Seaming — joining knitted panels together using mattress stitch or similar methods to create a neat, professional finish on a traditionally constructed sweater.