Sirdar In The Round Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Sirdar In The Round Sweater in Cashmere Merino Silk DK

What is Being Made

This is an advanced fair isle knit sweater designed for sophisticated womenswear. The pattern, Design No. 10308, is available in six sizes ranging from 81/86 cm (32/34") to 132/137 cm (52/54") chest measurement, with a consistent sleeve length of 43 cm (17") across all sizes. The sweater features a full length varying from 60 cm to 70 cm depending on size, making it suitable for a range of body types and proportions.

Knitting Techniques Used

This sweater is constructed using fair isle knitting, a traditional colorwork technique that involves working with multiple colors within the same row to create intricate patterned designs. Fair isle is an advanced knitting technique requiring careful attention to tension and color management to ensure the pattern displays correctly and the finished garment maintains proper shape and fit. The pattern incorporates in the round knitting, a method where stitches are worked continuously in circular rows using circular needles or double-pointed needles, rather than working back and forth in flat pieces. This technique creates seamless construction and is particularly valued for achieving even tension and professional-looking results in colorwork projects.

Stitches and Construction

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the pattern preview, fair isle sweaters typically employ stockinette stitch as the foundation, with the colorwork pattern created by carrying unused yarn colors across the back of the work. The in-the-round construction method means the sweater body and sleeves are knitted as continuous tubes, eliminating side seams and creating a seamless, polished finish. The pattern instructions are provided for each individual size, ensuring proper shaping at the armholes, neckline, and sleeve cap.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

This sweater is designed to be knitted using Sirdar Cashmere Merino Silk in Double Knitting (DK) weight. The yarn is a luxurious blend combining pure silk, extra fine merino wool, and Himalayan cashmere, creating a sophisticated fiber with excellent drape and a soft hand. The pattern calls for five different yarn shades: Yarn A, Yarn B, Yarn C, Yarn D, and Yarn E, with varying yardage requirements by size. For example, the smallest size (S) requires 1 ball each of Yarns A, B, and E, 8 balls of Yarn C, and 5 balls of Yarn D. Larger sizes require increased yardage, particularly in Yarn C (the main color), which ranges from 8 to 11 balls depending on size.

The specific shade options showcased include Downton Violet (shade 419), Royal Navy (shade 407), Meadow Green (shade 421), and Livery Tans (shade 414), along with additional shades 416, 403, 408, and 405 referenced in the pattern. These grown-up, flattering colors are inspired by English estates and create a luxury aesthetic. Double knitting weight yarn is ideal for fair isle work, providing sufficient stitch definition to showcase the colorwork pattern while remaining lightweight enough for comfortable wear.

Appropriate needles for DK weight yarn typically range from 3.25mm to 4mm (US 3-6), though the specific needle size recommendation would be confirmed in the full pattern instructions. Circular needles in the appropriate length for in-the-round knitting are essential for this construction method.

About Sirdar

Sirdar is an established British yarn company founded in West Yorkshire in 1880, bringing over 140 years of hand knitting heritage to this design. The company is known for triple-checking every pattern to guarantee successful results when using recommended Sirdar yarns, ensuring that knitters can approach this advanced fair isle project with confidence in both the pattern accuracy and yarn quality.