Cava was my Rhinebeck sweater this year, and I loved this simple textured cable in Sawkill Farm’s gorgeous heathered, worsted weight wool. It’s incredibly easy to work, and the sweater just flew off my needles. I bought the yarn at the 2021 festival in the Sawkill Farm booth (along with my favorite soaps!) and knit up just in time for 2022.

And when I say “just in time”, I mean fresh off the needles, so this is how long it takes to get a sweater pattern written and ready for you after that. :)

The sweater is worked from the bottom up in the round, once the split hem is joined, and the yoke is shaped along raglan seams. Short rows are then added to round out the neckline.

The silhouette is quite classic, but the sleeves are shaped just a little more generously along the wrist for a loose fit throughout the arm, and the body length is kept quite short - giving Cava a more modern feel!

As always with my designs, it is quite easy to modify. You can alter the neckline for a simple ribbed collar, or you can add a classic turtleneck or cowl instead of the short funnel shown. Notes are in the pattern for tweaking the circumference around the body, and you can easily alter the shape or length of your sleeves. Plus, playing with length in this pattern is a snap!

If you can’t find the Sawkill farm yarn that I used, you can absolutely substitute another worsted weight yarn from a flock closer to your home.

I also think Cava would be gorgeous in a soft yarn with a touch of alpaca, in a classic MCN, or in a lofty mix with a strand of mohair for a halo - and I think this geometric motif can absolutely stand up to a little variegation or a speckle. It would also be stunning in a tweed or a heather with lots of subtle shading in it.

Sizes:
37.5(40.75,44,48,51.25)(54.5,58.5,61.5,64.75)” 95.25(103.5,111.75,122,130.25)(138.5,148.5,156.25,164.5)cm

Sizes reflect circumference around body in final blocked fabric. Choose the size with about 4”/10cm of positive ease (based on actual bust) for fit shown.

Yardage by Size

Sawkill Farm 3ply Worsted (60% Sawkill Farm Wool, 40% Merino, approx. 200yds/183m per 3.5oz. 100g skein.)

1050(1150,1250,1350,1500)(1600,1700,1800,1850)yds 960(1055,1145,1235,1375)(1465,1555,1645,1695)m

Worsted weight yarn needed. Shown in Mauve Dark.
As noted above, I love my subtly heathered farm yarn. The soft gray shades are gorgeous in the pattern.

Other Yarn Thoughts

Substituting another worsted weight farm yarn would be perfect. Something full of natural gray shades or a heather in a dyed color would allow for the look and feel of my sample.

If you want something a little softer, there are tons of great worsted weight yarn options with a touch of cashmere or alpaca that could work, and I think that a fiber with a little halo could be lovely here! You just need to get the gauge above in a fabric you like, and be sure your stitch defnition is distinct enough for the pattern to show up nicely.

See the test knits for their yarn subs!