Muscardin

Muscardin Colorwork Sweater by Susanna Winter

What is Being Made

Muscardin is a circular-yoke sweater designed by Susanna Winter, named after a rare grape variety originating from southern France. This intermediate-level knitting project features an elegant colorwork motif of stylized vine leaves across the round yoke, complemented by leafy colorwork details on the cuffs. Small bobbles worked throughout the design resemble bunches of juicy grapes, creating a cohesive wine-themed aesthetic.

Construction and Fit

This sweater is worked from the top down using a hybrid round yoke and raglan construction method. The design includes a round neckline finished with twisted ribbing, waist shaping for a tailored fit, and short rows strategically placed to lower the back yoke for improved comfort and drape. The pattern is available in nine sizes ranging from XS to 5X, with finished bust measurements from 75 cm to 155 cm (30 inches to 62 inches).

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate knitting project employs several key techniques:

• Circular yoke construction: A hybrid approach combining round yoke and raglan shaping for seamless, elegant sleeve cap integration
• Colorwork knitting: Charted stranded colorwork patterns worked in the round across the yoke and cuffs, creating the stylized vine leaf motif
• Bobble stitch: Novel bobble construction technique used throughout to create grape-like embellishments
• Twisted ribbing: Applied at the round neckline for a refined, textured finish
• Short-row shaping: Used to lower the back yoke, improving fit and comfort
• Waist shaping: Decreases and increases strategically placed for a contoured silhouette

Pattern Instructions and Format

The Muscardin pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF with comprehensive instructions written in both metric and US terminology for international accessibility. Colorwork patterns are presented exclusively in chart format rather than written-out row-by-row instructions, allowing knitters to follow the visual representation of the vine leaf and grape motifs directly from the charts.

Materials Required

This sweater is worked in DK-weight yarn, a versatile medium weight that creates fabric with excellent stitch definition for displaying colorwork and bobble details. Knitters will need circular needles appropriate for DK-weight yarn and five stitch markers: four raglan markers to track the yoke increases and one unique beginning-of-round marker to clearly identify the start of each round during the circular knitting process.