Welcome to Hidden Underground!

Hidden Underground is a top-down drop-shoulder oversized boxy sweater with float pattern inspired by plastic microfibres in soil. You start knitting flat, shaping the neckline, and you join in the round after knitting the armholes. In this construction, you can easily change the upper arm circumference as well as the neckline depth. Then, you continue knitting the body in the float pattern without any shaping. Oversized sleeves are picked up and knitted in stockinette.

Hidden Underground is inspired by my research in the Isle of South Uist about microplastics in soils. If you’re interested, visit this link!

Yarn
This sweater is knit in fingering weight yarn. I used 100% wool Uist Wool Las in colourway Glas (165 m / 50 g) which is a 2ply woolen spun yarn.

Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are not many Uist Wool Las yarns available. But any other fingering weight yarn by Uist Wool would be perfect!

Yarn Amount
7(7, 7, 8)(8, 9, 9)(10, 11, 11) skeins of Uist Wool Las
1015(1065, 1155, 1210)(1325, 1415, 1485) (1590, 1700, 1760) m
1110(1165, 1265, 1325)(1445, 1545, 1625)(1740, 1860, 1925) yd

Size
A(B, C, D)(E, F, G)(H, I, J)

Finished bust circumference:
90(96, 102, 109)(115, 122, 128)(134, 141, 147) cm
35.25(37.75, 40.25, 42.75)(45.5, 48, 50.5)(53, 55.5, 60) in
wearing with 15–20 cm positive ease

Finished upper arm circumference:
40(40, 42, 42)(44, 46, 46)(50, 54, 54) cm
15.75(15.75, 16.5, 16.5)(17.25, 18, 18)(19.75, 21.25, 21.25) in
wearing with 14–16 cm positive ease

You can combine body and sleeves sizes.

I couldn’t find test-knitters for sizes F, G, I and J. However, the pattern was tech edited by Snooptigger Crafts, and everything should be alright.

Needles
circular 3.5 mm needles = US 4
circular 3 mm needles = US 2.5

Gauge
25 sts × 35 rounds (10 × 10 cm) in float texture after blocking knitting in round using bigger needles

Yarn Substitution Suggestions
BC Garn Bio Shetland
Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight
Biches & Buches Le Petit Lambswool
Rauma Finull
Tukuwool Fingering
Isager Highland Wool
Isager Alpaca 2