Lopi Stjnka Jumper Knitting Pattern

Lopi Stjánka Stranded Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

The Lopi Stjánka is a seamless, round-yoke pullover sweater designed in three sizes with chest measurements of 93, 100, and 107 cm. This classic Icelandic-inspired design features stranded colorwork throughout, combining white and black yarns in a traditional Fair Isle technique. The sweater is constructed from the bottom up, with the body and sleeves worked separately in the round before being joined at the yoke for seamless integration.

Construction Techniques

This sweater employs a bottom-up, seamless construction method, meaning the garment is built from the lower edge upward without requiring seaming. The body and sleeves are worked in the round using circular needles, which creates a continuous tube of fabric and eliminates the need for side seams. The yoke is joined in the round where the body meets the sleeves, with the round beginning at the left side of the back where the body joins the sleeve. This seamless approach provides a comfortable, uninterrupted fit.

The sweater features stranded colorwork, a technique where two colors of yarn are carried across the back of the work to create intricate patterned designs on the front. The pattern alternates between white and black stitches, with specific instructions to purl white stitches and knit black stitches in certain rounds to create texture and visual interest. The yoke incorporates decreases worked into the charted pattern, with specific rounds requiring evenly spaced decreases to shape the neckline and upper body.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Stjánka employs several fundamental knitting stitches and techniques:

• Ribbing: The lower edge begins with a 1x1 rib pattern (*k1, p1*) worked over 5 cm on the body and sleeves, creating an elastic cuff that hugs the wrists and waist
• Stockinette stitch: The main fabric body is worked in stockinette stitch, providing a smooth, classic canvas for the stranded colorwork
• Stranded colorwork: Charts 1, 2, and 3a/3b guide the placement of white and black stitches to create the traditional patterned design
• Decreases: Strategic decreases are incorporated into the yoke shaping, with round 25 requiring 20, 18, or 22 stitches decreased evenly across the round (depending on size) to taper the neckline
• Knit and purl stitches: The neckline round specifically alternates knit stitches in black with purl stitches in white for textural contrast

Sizing and Measurements

The pattern is offered in three sizes with the following key measurements:

• Size S: Chest 93 cm, length to underarm 43 cm, sleeve length to underarm 49 cm
• Size M: Chest 100 cm, length to underarm 44 cm, sleeve length to underarm 50 cm
• Size L: Chest 107 cm, length to underarm 45 cm, sleeve length to underarm 51 cm

Materials and Tools

The Stjánka is designed to be worked with Álafosslopi yarn, a traditional Icelandic wool blend. The pattern calls for 1 ball (100 gr) each of color A (Acorn Heather, shade 0053) in white and black for the stranded colorwork. Needles required include 4½mm circular needles for the ribbed cuffs and lower body sections, 5½mm circular needles for the main body and yoke, and 4½mm double-pointed needles (dpns) for casting on and working the sleeve ribbing. Shorter circular needles are recommended for the yoke as stitch counts decrease through the charted decreases.

Pattern Workflow

The knitter begins by casting on 130, 140, or 150 stitches (depending on size) with color A using 4½mm circular needles, then joins to work in the round. After completing 5 cm of 1x1 ribbing, the needles are changed to 5½mm and the body is worked following Chart 1, then Chart 2, until the body reaches 43, 44, or 45 cm from