Loop - Blink Pattern
BLINK
Designed by
Ragnhild Vaaland for Loop 2018
This is a perfect sweater for Spring/Summer or any time of year as it is lightweight and perfect for layering.
Ragnhild and her husband Atlas have been regular visitors to Loop for many years now. They come from far away in Norway a few times a year and it is always a happy thing when I see them walk into the shop. They both exude warmth, charm and style.
Last Autumn they came by the shop and Ragnhild was wearing a sweater that I immediately flipped over. It had beautiful texture, seemed almost gossamer lightweight which was perfect for layering, and had a great super simple, almost Japanese-like shaping to it. I was immediately smitten.
When Ragnhild told me that she had made it up and had never written a pattern before , I started having thoughts that we could bring this pattern to life with her. When they left the shop two different customers came up to me and asked me what pattern her sweater was. That was it. I had to find a way to have this become a pattern for us to knit as I knew so many would love it like I did. With huge help from Juju Vail and many sample/test knitters we have done it. Ragnhild is super excited to have her first pattern in print, knit inyarns that are close to her heart.
Ragnhild lives close to the North Sea in a small place called Naerland - 40 km south of the nearest big city. She loves to play with mixing two yarns together to see the different colours and textures you can create.
We at Loop are so thrilled to help bring her ideas to life in this gorgeous pattern so you can start knitting and wearing it too!
YARN NOTES: Hold one strand each of Japansk Cotton and Mohair together throughout.
We have found that different brands of mohair/silk yarns vary greatly in their fluffiness! We used both Ito Sensai Mohair and Isager Silk Mohair for our pattern and the Isager Silk Mohair produced a much denser fabric. Bear this in mind when making a gauge swatch for your sweater. Chose the fabric that you prefer. If the gauge doesn’t match ours exactly, consider going up or down a needle size or in choosing the pattern size in the pattern directions to get the size you want.
For pocket yarn: You can use any good fingering or 4 ply yarn that either compliments or contrasts with your main knit colours. You need about 20g of yarn for the pockets.
The Isager version:
YARN A:
Isager Japansk Cotton (Laceweight; 100% cotton; 315m / 344yds per 50g ball) x 4 (4,4) balls
Shown in colour 13
YARN B:
Isager Silk Mohair (Laceweight; 75% mohair 25% silk; 212m / 232yds per 25g ball) x 6 (6,6) balls
Shown in Colour 28/Coral
YARN C
(for pockets): Lang Jawoll (4ply / fingering weight; 75% wool, 25% nylon; 190m / 207yds per 50g ball) x 1 (1) ball
If you want to change the pocket yarn to something else you need any good fingering/4 Ply yarn and about 20g.
Shown here in Isager Highland in Chili.
The Isager and Ito version:
YARN A:
Isager Japansk Cotton (Laceweight; 100% cotton; 315m / 344yds per 50g ball) x 4 (4,4) balls
YARN B:
ITO Sensai (Laceweight; 60% mohair 40% silk; 240m / 262yds per 20g ball) x 4 (5,5) balls
YARN C
(for pockets): Lang Jawoll (4ply / fingering weight; 75% wool, 25% nylon; 190m / 207yds per 50g ball) x 1 (1) ball
NEEDLES & NOTIONS
4.5mm (UK 7 / US 7) circular needle, 100cm / 40in length
Note: Blink is worked flat in rows but we recommend a circular needle due to the volume of stitches.
4.5mm (UK 7 / US 7) suitable for working small circumferences in the round for the pockets.
Smooth 4ply / fingering weight scrap yarn for afterthought pocket markers
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
TENSION
18 sts and 32 rows to 10cm (4in) over garter stitch on 4.5mm needle after blocking.
Always use a needle size that will result in the correct gauge after blocking – it is crucial you achieve the correct stitch and row tension for this pattern to match the dimensions.
PATTERN NOTES
Blink is worked flat in one piece from the bottom edge of the front to the bottom edge of the back. Stitches are cast on for the sleeves and then decreased to the shoulder using short rows. The neck opening is created by casting off stitches, then casting them on again. The shoulder/ sleeve stitches are picked up from the short rows and the sweater back is completed. The pockets are formed using the afterthought method.
Blink is worked in garter stitch throughout with the pockets in stocking stitch and a slipped stitch edging pattern for the cardigan.
Please note that this is a printed pattern and will be posted to you. The PDF version is available through Ravelry here .