When I was a little girl, I loved going through old linens, clothes, and dishes saved by my mother, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. You could see the different fashions that pulled at each of these women’s hearts and the eras that formed their sense of style. One loved color, another had a “more is more” sensibility, and another was drawn to antiques and traditional designs. As I grew older, I began cultivating my own style, influenced not just by the era I was coming of age in—the 1990s—but also by these women. Ida is my way of paying homage to that, with a simple lace raglan reminiscent of those old linens, designed with colorful hand-dyed yarn in mind, and made in a throwback ‘90s cropped style. Named for the three generations of my maternal family before me, this sweater—like its namesake—is sure to be something that you return to again and again.

Ida is a cozy, cropped sweater that is perfect for those looking for a quick and stylish pattern, whether you are a first-time sweater knitter or an experienced one. Its simplicity is perfect for showing off colorful hand-dyed yarn or making a classic garment in a solid color. Pair it with high-waisted jeans or over a dress for a comfortable and fashionable outfit.

Sizing
#sizeinclusive
XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Chest/Bust: 35.5 (38, 40.5, 43, 47.5, 51.5, 55, 59.5, 61.5) inches/89 (95, 101, 107.5, 119, 129, 137.5, 149, 154) cm, intended to have 2-6 inches/5-15 cm of ease

Length: 10-16 inches/25-40 cm (underarm to hem), based on individual torso length and desired amount of crop

Model is 5’ 3.5” and is wearing size L with 3 inches/7.5 cm of ease and a length of 12 inches from underarm.

Yarn
Worsted weight
705 (745, 805, 865, 950, 1030, 1110, 1190, 1230) yards
645 (685, 740, 795, 870, 940, 1015, 1090, 1125) meters

or 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7) skeins in madelinetosh Tosh Merino (100% Merino; 200 yds/183 m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein), shown in colorway Forager

Needles and Notions
US 8/5 mm circular needle, 32 inches/80 cm
1 set(s) US 8/5 mm double pointed needles (DPNs)
8 stitch markers (at least one easily differentiated for beginning of round marker)
tapestry needle