Featuring the Icelandic hammer rose motif, this yoke is named for the dogged protagonist of Halldór Laxness’s dry and incisive Independent People (1954), on whose arrested potential much of the novel turns

I began this design with the transition from dark navy to silver-grey around the hem, cuffs and neckline. This simple use of colour creates a subtle shimmering effect, in which the sweater can appear to merge and fuse with a darker skirt or pair of jeans. Inverting and adjusting the hammer rose motif allowed me to feature it in different forms over the majority of the yoke depth. The shade changes here are frequent, there are no plain rows to interrupt the design, and the shaping is integrated into the motifs. The garment is a longer length with gentle waist and bust shaping.

The photographs were taken at Machir Bay on the beautiful Hebridean Island of Islay.

Sizing
29 (31¼, 32¾, 35, 36¼, 38½, 40, 42¼, 43¾, 45¾) in
For a neat fit (as pictured) choose a size with 2.5-5cm/1-2in positive ease from your bust measurement, and for a relaxed fit work with 7.5cm/3in positive ease or more.

Yarn
Ístex Létt Lopi (Aran weight; 100% Icelandic Wool; 100 m / 109 yards per 50g ball)
MC (0054) 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9) balls
CC1 (9419) 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) balls
CC2 (0058) 1 ball all sizes
CC3 (1402) 1 ball all sizes
CC4 (1410) 1 ball all sizes
CC5 (9264) 1 ball all sizes

Needles and notions
60-80cm / 24-30in below-gauge-size needle for rib 60-80cm / 24-30in gauge size circular needle for body
Gauge-size and below-gauge-size needles of your preferred type for working small circumferences for sleeves
100cm / 40in gauge-size circular needle for yoke
40cm / 16in below-gauge-size circular needle for neck rib
Waste yarn; Stitch markers; Tapestry needle

You may wish to read my blog post about creating this design.

Errata
This applies ONLY to print copies of the first edition of Yokes. All subsequent editions and digital copies have been updated.
Page 77 Yoke Chart - row 10, stitch 8 should be dark grey and not dark blue. Also, row 26, stitch 1 should be yellow and not pale grey.

Pattern discussions