Heima is the Icelandic word for “home”, and this lopapeysa got its name because its palette of warm and cool neutral shades are those of the Highland landscape in which I live. The main yarn colour is especially evocative of the rich, stout-brown peat which nourishes the heather moorland around my home, and which provides a deliciously pungent fuel for the fire in colder months.

Heima is seamless and worked from the bottom up, starting with the classic texture of a Moss stitch hem. The plain stocking stitch sleeves and body showcase the natural beauty of the undyed Black Sheep colourway; worked separately, they are joined at the underarm. The stranded colourwork yoke pattern originated as organic shapes and was a lot of fun to puzzle out. It adds a cosy double layer around the chest and shoulders and is topped off with a Moss stitch neckline. A few stitches of underarm grafting are all the finishing required.

Sizing:
Children’s sizes S (M, L, XL):
To fit actual chest measurement of 25.5 (27, 29, 30.5)” / 65 (68.5, 73.5, 77.5)cm

To knit this pattern, you will need:
Istex Lettlopi pure Icelandic wool; 1.75oz / 50g per 109yd / 100m ball ( - OR a similar “sticky” woollen yarn, such as an aran-weight Shetland):
MC 0052 Black Sheep Heather – 4 (5, 6, 6) balls
CC1 1418 Straw – 1 ball
CC2 0054 Ash Heather – 1 ball
CC3 1419 Barley – 1 ball
CC4 0051 White – 1 ball
CC5 9418 Stone Blue Heather – 1 ball
This pattern requires 16”/ 40cm and 24”/ 60cm circular needles, and needles for preferred method of working small circumferences in the round: dpns / magic loop / two circular needles.
Also required: darning needle; stitch marker; stitch holder/waste yarn.

Blocked gauge:
This pattern requires two sizes of needles: a larger size for knitting in stocking stitch, and a smaller size for the ribbing.
Blocked gauge is 20 sts and 22 rounds = 4” / 10cm square in stocking stitch using 4.5mm / U.S. 7 needles or whatever size YOU require to achieve correct gauge.

Be sure to block your swatch before checking for gauge, as Lettlopi yarn blooms when blocked.

Techniques Used:
Knit; purl
Working in the round on circular needles
Increasing; decreasing
Cable cast on - a good tutorial link is provided
Working small circumferences in the round using your preferred method: dpns / magic loop / two circular needles
Working from charts
Kitchener stitch / grafting - a good tutorial link is provided
Stranded colourwork
Blocking
Optional: weaving in ends as you go along - a good tutorial link is provided

A schematic drawing and full-colour chart diagrams are included.

Heima is a North Child copyright, and for personal and gift use only.