Góa Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Góa Sweater in LOPI Fjallalopi

What is Being Made

The Góa Sweater is an intermediate-level knitted pullover inspired by the fifth month of winter in the old Icelandic calendar, when spring's arrival becomes visible. This garment is available in seven sizes ranging from XS to 3XL, with chest measurements from 87 cm to 131 cm, making it suitable for a wide range of body types. The sweater features a yoke construction that creates a distinctive silhouette and allows for customizable fit across multiple dimensions.

Construction Technique

The Góa Sweater employs a yoke construction method worked in the round, a classic Icelandic knitting approach. The body and sleeves are knitted separately in the round from the lower edge up to the underarms, then joined together to work the yoke in a single continuous round. This technique provides structural integrity and allows for seamless integration of the upper body and sleeve sections. The round begins at the left side of the body and shifts to the left side of the back when working the yoke, ensuring consistent pattern alignment throughout the garment.

The underarm stitches are carefully placed on stitch holders during construction and later grafted together during finishing, creating invisible seams in these stress-bearing areas. This grafting technique, combined with the circular construction method, results in a professionally finished garment with minimal visible seaming.

Stitches Used

The Góa Sweater incorporates several fundamental knitting stitches:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st) – The primary stitch used throughout the body and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric with a gauge of 22 stitches and 29 rows per 10 x 10 cm when worked on 3.5 mm needles
• 2x2 Ribbing – Applied to the neckband using the pattern *knit 2, purl 2* repeated for 6 rounds, providing elasticity and a finished edge that hugs the neck
• Charted Colorwork – The yoke features a patterned design worked from a chart with decreases indicated, creating visual interest in the upper portion of the sweater
• Bind-Off in Rib – The neckband is finished with a loose bind-off worked in ribbing to maintain flexibility at the neck edge

Materials and Tools

The Góa Sweater is designed to be knitted using LOPI Fjallalopi yarn, an Icelandic wool yarn available in five carefully selected colors that create the traditional Icelandic aesthetic:

• Color A – Light Moorit (3001) – The primary color, requiring 5 to 7 balls of 50 grams depending on size
• Color B – Mustard (3041) – A single 50-gram ball for all sizes
• Color C – Ginger (3042) – A single 50-gram ball for all sizes
• Color D – Marron (3060) – A single 50-gram ball for all sizes
• Color E – Moss (3031) – A single 50-gram ball for all sizes, used for the neckband

The pattern requires circular needles in two sizes: 3.5 mm (US 4) needles in both 40 cm and 80 cm lengths for the main body and sleeves, and 3 mm (US 2.5) needles in both 40 cm and 80 cm lengths for the neckband ribbing. Double-pointed needles in both 3 mm and 3.5 mm sizes are also needed for working small circumferences and transitions between needle sizes. Switching to shorter needles as the yoke decreases is recommended to maintain consistent tension and control.

Gauge and Finishing

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit. The pattern specifies 22 stitches and 29 rows per 10 x 10 cm square in stockinette stitch using 3.5 mm needles. Knitters should check their gauge and adjust needle size accordingly before beginning the sweater. After completion, the garment should be hand-rinsed in lukewarm water and laid flat to dry, following traditional Icelandic wool care practices to maintain the sweater's shape and longevity.

Design by Védís Jónsd