ENGLISH + FRENCH PATTERN

‘Limppu”, in Finnish, is the name of a dark bread that’s made of either rye or barley and sweetened, usually eaten during the end of the year celebrations. It’s one of my favourite types of bread (though I like all of them!) and I thought it would be a good name for my idea of a warm brown sweater.

Limppu is worked top-down, starting at the back neck. Once the back piece is worked until the underarms, front stitches are picked up on each side of the neckline and increases are worked to form the neck. Then, fronts are worked together until the underarms. At this point, the back and front pieces are worked together in the round until the bottom hem (which is short on purpose). Its special feature is the layering effect created on the second half of the body, which starts then: stitches are picked up on the reverse side of the body’s ribbing; the second layer of the sweater is worked in stockinette in the round until the forming of side slits. Then the front and back pieces are worked separately flat until the “second” and final hem of the body. The front is approx 6 cm / 2.5” shorter than the back. Sleeves are picked up from the shoulder edge and decreases are spaced out across the sleeve length. The sleeves still end up being wide but comfortable to wear.

Sizes: 1 (2) 3 (4) 5 (6) 7

Bust circumference: 107 (117) 128 (139) 144 (151) 162 cm / 42 (46) 50.5 (54.75) 56.75 (59.5) 63.75”

Length from underarm to bottom hem (front): 32 cm / 12.5” (customisable)

Recommended ease: 20-30 cm / 7.75-11.75”

Yarn:
6 (6) 7 (7) 8 (8) 9 skeins of Biches et Bûches Le Gros Lambswool (100% wool, 100 g, approx. 192 m / 210 yards) colorway Medium Brown.

Needles:
4.5 mm / US 7  80 cm / 32” circular needles
4 mm / US 6  80 cm / 32” circular needles

Gauge:
16 sts x 29 rows = 10 cm / 4” on 4.5 mm / US 7 needles, in Broken Rib pattern knitted flat, after blocking.