Stranded Patterns

Designer: Ann Swanson

Happy day! This lovely sweater, originally published in Sweaters from Camp, is now available as a pattern leaflet from Schoolhouse Press. Ann Swanson designed a charming and easily adaptable sweater that plays with shifting pattern and background. The original is knit in a deep gray coupled with a light gray, but any two contrasting colors can be used (I’ve seen a red and white version that was lovely).

The construction is simple: a basic drop-shoulder design knit in the round from the hem to the underarm, where armhole steeks are set. The bracelet-length sleeves are knit from shoulder to cuff. Back neck shaping is added to the boat neckline. The pattern is written for one size only—41″ circumference—but can be altered easily if you added a false “seam” pattern at the underarms.

In fact, I would say that this is a perfect beginner’s sweater.

Designed by Janine Bajus (me!)

The design for this traditional vest in flattering, untraditional colors was inspired by a vase of flowering redbud branches against a weathered wall. The garment has waist and shoulder shaping for a flattering fit and comes in 7 sizes, from 34.25″ to 51.5″. Knit in the round (of course), with armhole and neck steeks, but still a good introduction to knitting a stranded garment if you are new to the art.

Yarn packs are available for this vest.

Designed by Dale Long

“I wanted to show Christmas through the haze of memory, so instead of using deep true shades, I chose colors that were soft and muted to suggest shapes we associate with Christmas rather than being too representative,” writes the designer. This beautiful sweater was designed for a different manufacturer’s yarn, but I can guide you to Jamieson Spindrift colors if you ask.

Designer: Churchmouse Classics

This stylish beret is knit using 2 balls of Spindrift on large needles and then felted by hand to create a soft, structured unisex beret.

I’ve knit one of these berets in two colors with a subtle pattern separating them—if you order the felted beret pattern and two balls of yarn, I will include the instructions for this variation (the picture shows beret in 122 Granite and 125 Slate).

Designer: Sheila Joynes

Simple corrugated rib, a Nordic star pattern without too many color changes, and colored charts make this cap an excellent introduction to stranded knitting. The pattern is written for two colorways—Moss and Copper—and two weights of yarn, traditional Jamieson Spindrift Shetland jumperweight and DK weight.

Spindrift yarn packs are available for the Moss and Copper colorways.

Designer: Abbott Smith

This dramatic, 87″ long patterned scarf is knit in the double-knit technique so each side looks good—it’s another fun way to play with Spindrift yarn! 16 colors: chartreuses, golds, and grayed violets in a sophisticated unisex palette—or choose your own. Click on the photo to see the entire scarf.

A yarn pack for this design can be found here.

Designer: Ron Schweitzer

Ron Schweitzer uses 11 shades of mossy greens and violets in this striking unisex pullover sweater with an allover pattern adapted from Celtic sources. The cuff, hems, and band are knit in Schweitzer’s characteristic patterned rib.

Yarn packs for this pattern are available here.

Designer: Abbott Smith

Abbott describes this design as “a Nordic inspired pattern of hearts, mountains, and finished with a rosette version of the North Star.” Knit in 16 shades of blues, this tam is sure to look good on anyone—but it could be knit as a two-color design (1 ball of each color should be enough).

See the Kits page for the North Star Tam yarn pack.

Designer: Abbott Smith

Nine colors of Spindrift–deep reddish browns and dulled purples, yellows from gold to lemon–interact to suggest the glow of an old tin lantern that has been punched in a geometric design. If the number of colors seems overwhelming, the hat would look charming knit up in only two.

A yarn pack is available for this tam: 5 balls and 6 mini-skeins of Jamieson Spindrift.

Designer: Abbott Smith

The interlaced oak leaves in 10 shades of green glow against 5 colors of blue to make this striking tam. But if the number of colors seems overwhelming, I’ve also seen beautiful versions of this pattern knit with only 2 colors.

I’ve assembled a yarn pack consisting of full balls and mini-skeins for this project.

Designer: Meg Swansen

These two sweaters use single-color all-over Turkish patterns against glowing sequences of colors, which make either one an easy introduction to stranded knitting. In fact, the Turkish Maple sweater was the very first Fair Isle-type sweater I ever knit! Both sweaters are knit from the hem upward; the inset drop sleeves are knit from the shoulder to the cuff. The Turkish Ocean also features an optional saddle shoulder. The pattern comes in three sizes: 42″, 44″, and 47″, although the design is very easy to re-size as needed.

I can kit up either design in Jamieson Spindrift yarn; please drop me a line for more information.

Designer: Marilyn van Keppel

This charming solid-colored cardigan with a cheerful yoke was inspired by Michael Emberly’s watercolor illustrations in the book Welcome Back Sun. The sweater comes in three sizes: Child’s size 8-10; Child’s size 14-16; Womens size 40″. Sizes can be adjusted easily.

The pattern uses 6 colors; I can kit up these sizes in Jamieson Spindrift for $63.60, $74.80, or $97.20.  Please write to me if you’d like a kit.

Designer: Sandy Blue

Classic tam in shades of fall (main color: Purple Heather). Calls for 10 colors of Spindrift.

A yarn pack is available for this tam: 6 balls and 4 mini-skeins of Jamieson Spindrift.

Designer: Sandy Blue

Classic tam in deep, rich shades colors. Calls for 11 shades of Spindrift.

A yarn pack is available for this pattern: 4 balls and 10 mini-skeins of Jamieson Spindrift.

Designer: Anne Featonby

A cropped cardigan with elbow-length sleeves. Shades of green and coral play beautifully in traditional patterns. Because the design is not highly shaped, this would be a good pattern for beginners. Six sizes: 35″, 38.5″, 42″, 45.5″, 49″, 52.5″. The designer hosted a knit-along for this design on her blog; you can find many hints and options for changing the pattern there.

Yarn packs for this design can be found here. This pattern is also available in a different colorway; Rosy Hibiscus features rosy reds and blue-greens.

Designer: Meg Swansen

Charming classic yoke sweaters–a pullover and a cardigan. The patterns are written for one size (38-39″), but Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Percentage System is given as a guide for changing sizes. Easily adaptable to different colorways.

Designer: Ron Schweitzer

Twelve shades of olive and coral are used in this sweater, which looks harder to knit than it is! The pattern offers 5 sizes (44″, 46.5″, 49″, 51.5″, 54″).

Yarn packs for this design can be found here.

Designer: June Dickinson

A charming tea cozy with the nursery rhyme knit in! This pattern would be a good introduction to stranded knitting and steeks. Any two colors of Spindrift with good value contrast will work well; one ball each is all that’s needed.

Designer: Meg Swansen

A beautiful 3-color interpretation of an old Swedish pattern charted for 5 sizes (33″, 37″, 41″, 45″, 49″). Meg incorporated several interesting techniques: Armenian knitting, purl-when-you can hem, and built-in borders.

Designer: Meg Swansen

A darling 3-color stocking with a surprise pocket. The design incorporates an “afterthought” heel. (You will have to chart the name of your recipient, of course.) I recommend using 525 Crimson, 800 Tartan, and 343 Ivory.

Designer: Meg Swansen

A stylish knitted joke: the body of the sweater sports an enlarged diagram of knitted stitches, while “purl stitches” decorate the sleeves. Any two colors of Spindrift with good value contrast would work for this pullover. This black-and-white Wool Gathering pattern, written in Meg’s  discursive style, offers one size (44″) but can be re-sized easily.

Designer: Meg Swansen

This charming child’s vest calls for 7 different colors (I do not carry the specific colors Meg used, but can help re-color the design). This Wool Gathering pattern is written for one size (28.5″), but can easily be re-sized–Meg offers specific instructions in the pattern.

Designer: Meg Swansen

This traditional V-neck vest in 4 sizes (38″, 43″, 48″, 52″) looks good on men and women. This Wool Gathering pamphlet is written in Meg Swansen’s characteristic style; she offers several options at every step of the way. The pattern calls for 5 colors; I don’t carry the specific yarn she calls for, but this vest pattern can be re-colored easily.

Knit this vest along with Meg on her Fair Isle Vest DVD. When I was learning stranded knitting, this DVD (well, video in those days) was my constant companion!