The pattern on this year’s advent sweater reminds me of the Hyacinths in my windows. The Hyacinth is our little Christmas reminder, letting us know that the world is turning, and the seasons are changing. The unassuming stems quickly turns into pretty flowers that will fill our space with the smells of spring.

This sweater is worked top-down, in the round, and is designed to use an Advent Calendar together with a main color – all held together with just a little bit of fluff, to help all the colors blend together beautifully! You can use advent calendars in both fingering and DK weight – fingering weight just needs to be held double.
Sizes
1-2-3 (4-5-6) 7-8

Chest circumference
100-109-118 (128-138-148) 158-168 cm / 39.4-43-46.5 (50.4-54.3-58.3) 62.2-66.1 in

Length
50-50-50 (53-53-53) 55-55 cm / 19.7-19.7-19.7 (20.5-20.5-20.5) 21.7-21.7 in

Fit
Hyacinth is a very relaxed, oversize sweater with deep armholes. I recommend 20-35 cm / 8-14 in positive ease.
It is designed to be on the shorter side; not cropped but hitting around the top of your hip bone. You can easily make it longer by adding length to the final section of the main color before the ribbing. If you want it even longer, you can add length to each of the sections of main color between the pattern repeats. Just note that doing so will of course affect yardage!

Yardage
Main color 620-700-820 (900-1080-1170) 1240-1320 m
Contrast color 250-300-350 (400-450-500) 550-600 m

This sweater is designed for an Aran weight yarn – or for multiple strands of yarn held together to get an Aran weight.

In my sample, I have used the following yarns:
Main color is Drops Tweed (color 17), held together with Hobbi Alpaca Blaze (color 22).
Contrast color is scraps in DK weight, held together with Drops Brushed Alpaca Silk (color 18).

For the contrasting color, you can use either scraps or an advent calendar, and hold it together with a mohair or brushed alpaca. This way, the different colors will blend beautifully to form a coherent look.

If you use an advent calendar, and you want to use all 24 colors, you can use 2 or 3 colors in the folded over neckline, 3 colors in each of the 3 colorwork sections on the yoke and body, 3 colors in each of the 2 colorwork sections on each sleeve, and if you like, you can use 1 color for the bind off on body and sleeves.

Yardage is given for yarns held together. If you combine yarns, you will need the same number of meters for each yarn.

Please note that yardage is estimated and may vary between knitters.
Suggested needles
4 mm (US6) and 6 mm (US10) circular needles, minimum 60 cm.
If you prefer not to use Magic Loop on the yoke and sleeves, you will also need DPNs or short circular needles in the same sizes.
Please note that needle size is only a suggestion. The pattern refers to the smaller and the larger needle – always choose the needle size needed to get gauge!

Gauge
16 sts x 15 rnds in stockinette stitch on larger needles = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 in after blocking.

Pay extra attention to your gauge when knitting the colorwork sections, and when working the sleeves. Many knitters will tend to have a tighter gauge when working these parts of the sweater. If this is true for you, please adjust your needle size accordingly, by going up one or two sizes!

It can be very difficult to get both stitch gauge and row gauge. Always choose the needle size that gives the correct stitch gauge. If your row gauge is either looser or tighter than stated above, please use the measurements below to determine the placement of the colorwork sections:

Each colorwork sections measures approximately 8 cm / 3.1 inches in height.
From neckline to 1st colorwork section (measured in the middle of the front): approximately 5 cm / 2 in
Between colorwork sections: approximately 5.5 cm / 2.2 in
From last colorwork section to start of ribbing on the body: approximately 2 cm / 0.8 in.

If your colorwork sections measure less than 8 cm / 3.1 in, you can add length to the sections between the colorwork. If your colorwork sections measure more than 8 cm / 3.1 in, you can shorten the sections between the colorwork. If you make adjustments, please remember to note down how many rnds you have knit, so you can replicate it on the following sections!