Knitting pattern for Esther sweater with pretty texture knitting

Esther is a basic raglan sweater with a beautiful structured pattern in offset rib. The sweater has a really good fit, which will hopefully mean that you will just love wearing this sweater. Fit is absolutely crucial for whether we are happy with our clothing or not, and therefore it's part of a creating a sustainable wardrobe.

Here we work Esther in our rustic Shetland wool together with silk mohair, and the result is a warm, soft and rustic sweater that is very versatile in use.

This kit contains: Yarn for the elected size and a digital pattern

The pattern is a PDF file. Immediately after purchase you will be able to download the pattern directly from the purchase confirmation page. You will also receive an e-mail with a link to your pattern, and the pattern will be available here at the site via your personal account - so remember to create an account :-) Read more about digital knitting patterns here.

Designed by Katrine Hannibal for Önling.

Sizes: (XS)S(M)L(XL)2XL(3XL)4XL(5XL)6XL
Chest circumference: (98)104(111)116(124)131(138)147(153)162 cm / approx. (38.5)41(43.75)45.5(48.75)51.5(54.25)57.75(60.25)63.75 inches.
Length: (56)57(58)59(60)61(62)63(64)65 cm / approx. (22)22.5(22.75)23.25(23.5)24(24.5)24.75(25.25)25.5 inches
Sleeve length under sleeve: (46)46(46)46(46)43(42)41(41)39 cm / approx. (18)18(18)18(18)17(16.5)16.25(16.25)15.5 inches

Materials:
Color A: (250)250(300)300(350)350(350)400(400)450 g / (5)5(6)6(7)7(7)8(8)9 balls Önling No 20, 100% shetland wool, 50 g = approx. 247 yards (225 meters), weight: sport

Held together with

Color B: (125)125(125)150(150)175(175)200(200)225 g (5)5(5)6(6)7(7)8(8)9 balls Önling No 10, 70% mohair, 30% silk, 25 g = approx. 230 yards (210 meters), weight: lace

Worked with two strands held together throughout.

Recommended needles:  Circular needles no. 4 and 5 / US 6 and 8

Gauge: 18 sts and 26 rows in pattern on needle no. 5 / US 8 = 10 x 10

Procedure: The sweater is worked in the round, from the top down. Stitches are cast on using the provisional, crochet cast-on method to allow adjusting the size of the neck opening after finishing the sweater. Short rows are worked over shoulders and back of the neck to make the back of the neck higher. The yoke is worked with raglan increases, and the yoke stitches are then separated into sleeves and body, which are finished separately. The sleeves are worked in the round. After trying on the sweater for size, the provisional cast-on is unraveled, and the neck hem worked. 

General washing instructions

Wash gently by hand or on a dedicated wool/hand-wash cycle at max. 30°C / 85°F. Use a low spin speed: max. 800 rpm if adjustable, or Low where the options are Low / Medium / High.

Always dry flat. See the yarn instructions and exceptions in the table below.

Start with a swatch

Wash and dry your swatch like the finished piece. Measure gauge only when completely dry; washing and shaping can change appearance and dimensions.

When combining yarns, follow the gentlest care instructions. Test strong colour contrasts in the same swatch; otherwise, keep light and dark knits separate when washing and drying.

Choose the right detergent

Use mild liquid detergent without enzymes or bleach, suitable for all fibres. Choose wool detergent for wool, angora, mohair and cashmere. For knits containing silk, it must also suit silk. For Önling No 14 and No 21 alone, mild delicates detergent is suitable.

In Denmark, we recommend: Neutral Uld & Finvask; Sonett Olivenvaskemiddel til uld og silke Sensitive; or Ecover Uld & Silke (Delicate). Always check the current label. Follow the dosage on the packaging, and do not use fabric softener.

How to hand-wash

1. Wash gently in plenty of lukewarm water, max. 30°C / 85°F, with detergent. Gently press the knit down into the water. Do not rub, wring or stretch.

2. Rinse gently in clean, lukewarm water, max. 30°C / 85°F. A suitable no-rinse detergent may be used according to the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Support the whole piece when lifting. Roll in a clean, dry towel and gently press out water. Use this method especially for hand-wash-only yarns.

How to machine-wash

Always test the wool cycle on a swatch. Without a dedicated wool/hand-wash cycle, hand-wash. A regular delicates cycle is not a wool cycle.

Avoid large temperature changes between washing and rinsing, as these can cause wool to felt. Use the towel method instead of spinning if preferred. With rinse hold, drain without spinning. Follow the machine's instructions and remove the knit promptly after washing.

Soaking before the first wash

Find the soaking time in the table below. Place finished knits and swatches in plenty of water without detergent, max. 30°C / 85°F. Keep them submerged and undisturbed. Do not soak yarn in balls, skeins or on cones.

Drain the water and gently press out excess water without wringing. Then wash as instructed. Soaking in water does not replace washing.

Önling No 12, No 13 and No 16 are supplied unwashed after spinning. The first treatment is part of finishing. If soaking continues beyond about 24 hours, replace all the water. This also applies to Hverdagskittet with No 12 and No 13.

This treatment allows Önling No 16 to bloom and soften, and softens the fibres in Önling No 21. Önling No 1, No 2, No 3, No 4, No 10 and No 20 are washed at the mills.

Drying and blocking

Dry flat and fully supported on a blocking mat or dry towel on a moisture-resistant surface. Gently shape while damp and check the measurements. Blocking means shaping, not stretching larger. Use rustproof blocking pins when the pattern calls for them.

Allow air to circulate, replace wet towels and leave to dry completely. Avoid hangers, washing lines, radiators, strong direct sunlight and tumble dryers.

Between washes and for odours

Air wool knits overnight or for a few hours outdoors in slightly damp weather, flat or well supported. Let them rest between uses to regain their shape. Airing can remove smoke and cooking smells. Wash if stained, dirty or persistently smelly.

For spinning-oil odours in unwashed yarns, follow the yarn instructions for the first treatment and subsequent washing with wool detergent.

Fluff and pilling

Pilling is mainly caused by friction. Remove pills only as needed with a suitable tool, testing an inconspicuous area first. Take care with airy, loosely knitted and long-haired knits. Wool combs and fabric shavers are not recommended routinely for all yarns.

Storage

Store knits folded, clean and completely dry. Protect wool knits and yarn from moths, for example in a clean, sealed container, and check the contents regularly.

YARN GUIDE

Washing: Max. 30°C / 85°F. Wool cycle: max. 800 rpm or Low. Dry flat. Soaking: Finished knits and swatches only, in water without detergent. Do not soak yarn in balls, skeins or on cones. Wash afterwards.