30% of the proceeds from the sale of the Hairst pattern will go to the Shetland Amenity Trust. To read more about them and why we have decided to donate, click here.

Pattern notes

This pattern was designed to be the ‘next step’ after the Start Here sweater which was a basic introduction to the art of fair isle and yoked knitting. The overall design of Hairst is simple and easy to memorize with repeating diamond and line patterns but also packed with gorgeous Bouclelaine yarn colors for an anything-but-boring result.

The pattern calls for a fingering weight yarn using a US 7 (4.5 mm) needle which creates a thinner fabric with a lovely drape, ideally suited to autumn and spring weather.

Sizing Guide

The Hairst jumper is designed to be oversized, with a drop shoulder, and generously sized throughout the body with fitted sleeves. The garment hem was designed to hit just below the natural waist which makes it ideally worn with a pair of high waisted pants or skirt.

Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4) 5, 6

Chest circumference (of finished garment): 47.25 (49, 54.5, 58) 63.5, 67.25” / 120 (125, 138, 147) 161, 171 cm

Intended ease 10” / 25.5 cm

Gauge

To get 4” x 4” (10 x 10 cm)

22 stitches and 25 rows stockinette stitch using US 7 (4.5 mm) needles (after blocking)

Needles and Notions

US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle in appropriate length for body

US 6 (4 mm) circular needle in appropriate length for body edge ribbing

US 7 (4.5 mm) DPNs for sleeves

US 6 (4 mm) DPNs for sleeve cuff ribbing and neck ribbing

Needle sizes listed above are only recommendations, use the size necessary to obtain gauge.

1 stitch marker

Tapestry needle

Waste yarn

Note on yarn yardage / meterage needed to complete the Hairst jumper

The Hairst jumper was designed, spontaneously, one fateful afternoon when my little son had fallen asleep on my lap. Read about the Hairst jumper and how it came to be here. Not wanting to wake him but needing something to entertain myself with, I reached for a basket of Bouclelaine yarn that was sitting on a nearby table. The basket was full of small balls of yarn left over from other knitting projects. As my son slept I cast-on what eventually became the Hairst jumper. Due to the number of unique colors I used to create this jumper (over 30) I have listed the yardage / meterage totals in a few different ways below to help you determine the amount of yarn you will need to create your own Hairst from scraps as well as from Bouclelaine’s gorgeous color range of ‘Ouessant 50’ yarn.

In the section below I list the yardage / meterage of yarn needed to create the Hairst jumper from your stash or scrap yarn broken down into Yarn A (main color) and Yarn B yardage / meterage and Yarn C-D plus accent colors yardage / meterage.

Below that I have listed suggested Bouclelaine yarn colors and yarn quantities needed based on their 100 / 50 / 10 g ball options.

Using many different colors can be expensive but luckily Bouclelaine sells yarn in 10 g / 40 meter quantities which makes using a lot of colors in one jumper much easier.

Yardage / Meterage

Total yarn: 1215 (1350, 1580, 1745) 2085, 2295 yards / 1111 (1480, 1445, 1596) 1906, 2100 meters

Yarn A (MC): 570 (630, 740, 815) 975, 1075 yards / 520 (575, 675, 745) 890, 980 meters

Yarn B: 288 (315, 370, 410) 490, 540 yards / 260 (290, 338, 375) 445, 490 meters

Yarn C, D, and accent colors: 360 (405, 475, 525) 625, 685 yards / 335 (370, 432, 480) 575, 630 meters

Pleae note that the yarn amounts listed above are estimates and will vary for each knitter.

Suggested yarn

Bouclelaine ‘Ouessant 50’

Yarn A (MC): Outremer (navy)

Yarn B (cuff and accent bands): Seigle* or Blanc Naturel (ecru/white)

Yarn C (accent band): Cassis (mauve)

Yarn D (accent band): Bronze (greenish brown)

Accent colors: up to 26 assorted colors

Bouclelaine Yarn Amounts (listed in amounts rounded up to the closest ball size available)

Size #: Yarn A (MC) / Yarn B / Yarn C / Yarn D + ( #) 10 g balls of assorted accent colors

Sizes 1 + 2: 150 g / 100 g / 50 g / 50 g + (26)

Sizes 3 + 4: 200 g / 100 g / 50 g / 50 g + (26)

Sizes 5 + 6: 250 g / 150 g / 100 g/ 50 g + (52)*

For sizes 5 + 6 please choose 26 assorted colors twice (two 10 g balls for each of the 26 accent colors)