Patternum Novum: Lysa Pullover

Ever since I knit my Bohus back in 2009, I've had a thing for round-yoked sweaters. And whenever I knit one, I think of the knitting tradition of my ancestral land, and it makes me feel somehow like I'm paying homage to my Swedish great-grandparents when I do so.

Now, I've published my fair share of round-yoked sweaters, and I've danced around the idea of colorwork (the corrugated ribbing in Indicum sort of counts, but that was just edging), but I've never actually done a round yoke with a stranded colorwork pattern before (until now). And I realize this is a far cry from a Bohus...but here it is, my Swedish-inspired, round-yoked, colorworked contribution to the knitting world.

Lysa Pullover - $6 via Ravelry (no account required)


Lysa (a Swedish verb for light) is a top-down pullover with a very simple, modern colorwork pattern. The twinkling stripes encircling the yoke and sleeve cuffs provide endless possibilities for play with color, and are a perfect way for an adventurous beginner to dip his or her toe into the colorwork pool.

The sweater starts with the ribbed collar, after which three increase rounds shape the yoke and (optional) short rows lower the front neck for a very flattering look. A few raglan increases are thrown in just before the body and sleeves are separated to avoid the bunching that can occur at the underarms of circular-yoked sweaters.

The body includes a little bit of subtle waist shaping and a little bit of ease around the hips.

The sample is the size 32.5"/82.5 cm bust, worn with about 1/2"/1.25 cm of negative ease around the bust. For a similar fit, I suggest choosing the size closest to your full bust measurement. And, if you're right in between, you can always omit or add increases from/to the last yoke increase round to make it the right size for your bust.  (And if you have questions about this, please let me know -- I'm always happy to talk sizing and alteration!)

The specs...

Sizes: Finished bust: 28.25 (32.5, 36.25, 40.5, 44.25, 48.5, 52.75, 56.5, 60.75)” / 72 (82.5, 92, 103, 112.5, 123, 134, 143.5, 154.5) cm; Length from back neck to hem: 21.5 (22, 23.25, 24, 24.5, 24.75, 25.25, 25.75, 26)” / 54.5 (56, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65.5, 66) 

Yarn:  MC: The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted (75% Merino, 20% Cashmere, 5% Nylon; 200 yds / 183 m per 100g); 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) skeins in Pinehurst
Or, 685 (790, 880, 985, 1075, 1180, 1280, 1375, 1475) yds / 625 (720, 805, 900, 985, 1080, 1170, 1255, 1350) m of a worsted weight yarn
CC: The Plucky Knitter Primo Aran (75% Merino, 20% Cashmere, 5% Nylon; 200 yds / 183 m per 100g); 1 skein in Miss Manners
Or, 30 (30, 35, 50, 55, 60, 60, 65, 70) yds / 27 (27, 32, 46, 50, 55, 55, 59, 64) m of a yarn similar to MC
Note: I used Primo Aran for the CC because a) I loved the color, b) I didn’t have it in Worsted, and c) I was impatient and wanted to start the sweater right away. Otherwise, I would have used Primo Worsted. Despite the slight difference in weight, using Aran for the colorwork ribbons did not impact the gauge of those parts of the sweater at all.

Needles:  US 6 (4mm) circular needle, 24-60" / 60-150 cm long, depending on size made, OR size needed to obtain gauge
Same size needles preferred for working a small circumference in the round (e.g. circular needle long enough for Magic Loop or dpns)

Gauge: 19 sts & 26 rows = 4" / 10 cm in Stockinette Stitch

For more information on Lysa, you can check it out on Ravelry here.