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Designer: Elizabeth Zimmermann

Sketches for these two yoke sweater designs were found in Elizabeth Zimmermann’s journals; her grandson Cully turned them into these two sweater patterns. The Wave Yoke Sweater is knit at a gauge suitable for Jamieson’s Spindrift; the Arrow Raglan Sweater is knit at a worsted gauge, but could easily be re-calculated if you wanted. Each sweater is given in five sizes: 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44″.

by Elizabeth Zimmermann & Meg Swansen

Elizabeth Zimmermann’s groundbreaking percentage system for designing seamless sweaters changed my approach to sweater design. Over the years EZ’s original percentages have been modified by experience and fashion, and this has resulted in some confusion—but now Meg has put all the current information in one place.

This leaflet does not contain any patterns per se. What you get is an introduction to the percentage system and how it is used for 4 different seamless sweaters: basic raglan, concentric yoke, (perfect for Fair Isle patterning, as shown in the photograph), entrelac yoke, and the amusing “nalgar,” a reverse raglan. These yoke shapings can be used with any weight of yarn and any gauge.

If you know me you know that I am indebted to Meg and, by extension, EZ—their books form an essential part of my library. I hope that the Four Tops leaflet will encourage you to read more of their work!

By Elizabeth Zimmermann

When issues of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Wool Gathering magazine went out of print, she re-formatted them as single-sheet, black & white flyers called Spun Outs. Spun Out #43 Baby Jacket and Blanket includes the pattern for a darling wrap-front baby jacket (plain or striped), an ingenious baby hat with shoulder flange (tuck under the coat or jacket to keep the baby’s neck warm!), and an inviting lace-edged garter stitch blanket that can be stretched severely to make a shawl. All knit in lovely Shetland wool.

The blanket calls for 8 oz of wool, the jacket takes 3 oz, and the hat 2 oz. (Remember: Shetland yarn is now sold in 25 g balls, just shy of a full ounce!)

Dissected and written by Sunday Holm

This cropped cardigan, designed in the 1950s and recently recovered, sports a dropped armhole, semi-dolman sleeves and a squared-off neckline. At a gauge of 5 stitches per inch, this can be knit with Jamieson Spindrift.

Elizabeth Zimmermann’s inventive Baby Surprise Jacket pattern in now over 40 years old! The original was knit in Shetland jumperweight wool—400-500 yards of Jamieson’s Spindrift will do the trick. This 10-page pattern includes EZ’s original version as well as a line-by-line version, plus collar and hood variations. Alter gauge and numbers and you get the Adult and Child versions.

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).