The puff sleeve sweater in my head came to life! Design ideas sometimes float around in my mind for ages until I find a yarn to bring them to life, and that was definitely the case for this one. Puff sleeves were haunting me, I guess you could say. This beautiful yarn by The Fibre Company called out to be knitted into something pretty and puff sleeves are about as pretty as it gets, so onto the needles it went. I know I say this every time, but on this occasion I’m so very happy with how it turned out! The pattern is available on Ravelry as of today.
EDIT: As of 29/06/20, this pattern is available to download directly via this blog post. Scroll down to purchase.
The Lawrenson sweater is named after my great-great-grandmother Mary Alice Lawrenson, who I obviously never met but sounds like quite the extraordinary lady. She had 16 children! Or possibly 17, I’m not sure. Either way, what a woman. Who knows whether she liked puff sleeves but I’ve named this sweater after her anyway.
Yarn: The Fibre Company are based in the Lake District, Cumbria, and their HQ just happens to be a mile down the road from the caravan site we stayed in twice last year, near Threlkeld. Little did I know at the time that there was pretty yarn to be found just across the field! Following this revelation I of course jumped at the chance to squish all the beautiful yarn on an open day back in November, where I met the lovely Daphne and of course, squished all the yarn. This particular shade of The Fibre Co. Terra was being discontinued (I think!), but it caught my attention and had to come home with me. Terra is a beautiful blend of alpaca, merino, and silk and is an absolute dream to work with. Anyway, I digress. The Lawrenson Sweater uses aran weight yarn, and has been tested in wool, acrylic, cotton, silk blends, and mohair boucle.
yarn: Aran weight yarn, 680 (776; 839; 943; 1026) 1156; 1255; 1381; 1483 metres / 741 (845; 913; 1027; 1117) 1258; 1366; 1503; 1615 yards. Shown here in The Fibre Company Terra, a blend of 40% baby alpaca, 40% Merino wool, 20% silk. If using this yarn, you will need 4 (5; 5; 6; 6) 7; 7; 8; 9 skeins.
needles and notions: 5mm needles: 24 inch / 60cm circular needle for body, plus either DPNs or long circular needle (for magic loop) for sleeves and neckband. You will also need scrap yarn for holding stitches, lockable stitch markers (with one marker different to the rest to denote the beginning of round), and a tapestry needle.
Construction: the Lawrenson sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down, with short-row set in sleeves. Aka my absolute favourite sweater method ever. Perfect for trying on as you go, and oh-so-satisfying to see those sleeves take shape.
gauge: 18 sts / 24 rows to 4 inches / 10 cm in stocking stitch on 5mm needles, blocked.
Sizing: 1 (2: 3: 4: 5) 6: 7: 8: 9 detailed below, designed to be worn with 1-3 inches / 2.5 – 7.5 cm negative ease. Sample shown is a size 2 worn on a 34†bust with around 3 inches of negative ease.
To fit bust: 28-30 (32-34; 36-38; 40-42; 44-46) 48-50; 52-54; 56-58; 60-62 inches / 71-76 (81-86; 91-97; 102-107; 112-117) 122-127; 132-137; 142-147; 152-157 cm.
Finished bust circumference: 27.5 (31; 34.75; 39; 42.75) 47; 50.75; 55; 58.75 inches / 70 (79; 88; 99.5; 108.5) 119.5; 128.5; 140; 149 cm.
The Lawrenson Sweater is #sizeinclusive to a bust of 62â€(with the intended negative ease). It is knitted seamlessly from the top down, with short row set in sleeves.
Yarns used by test knitters:
Canard Mohair Bouclé Mix
Red Heart Soft Aran
Stylecraft Special Aran
Malabrigo Rios
Debbie Bliss Aran
DROPS Paris
James C Brett Aztec Aran
Juniper Farm Moonshine
Sirdar Snuggly Supersoft Rainbow Drops Aran
I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the test knitters who helped me out with this knitting pattern – your feedback has been invaluable and there’s a huge smile on my face every time I see someone wearing one of my designs. There’s quite the sense of satisfaction to be had from turning an idea in your head into an object to wear yourself, then into a pattern for others to wear themselves. And everyone looks fabulous in it! BIG (VIRTUAL) HUG TO ALL OF YOU. Check out more of their photos on #LawrensonSweater.
Alternatively, head over to the Lawrenson Sweater pattern on Ravelry.
Lily Kate x
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