The Loki Junior is a classic Icelandic Lopapeysa, the children´s version of the original sweater. It draws it´s name from a sly person in Norse mythology. Loki was a shape shifter and is said to have in separate incidents appeared in the form of a salmon, a mare and a fly, and even an elderly woman. He was thought to be the causer of knots, tangles and loops and the inventor of the fishnet.

There is, however, nothing sly or knotty about this sweater. It is gender neutral, and worked in the traditional way, bottom up, in the round. Sleeves and body are gathered at the yoke, which is then worked in the round. Short rows may be added at the bottom of the yoke for better fit. Then the colorwork pattern is knitted, including decreases to shape the yoke. Finally, the neckband is worked.

Sizes: 9 months-1-2-4-6-8-10-12 years. The sweater body circumference is 58-61-64-68-73-79-84-90 cm / 22 ¾-24-25 ¼-26 ¾-28 ¾-31-33-35 ½ in.

Gauge: 18 sts in stockinette = 10 sm / 4 in.

Needles: Main needles for yoke, body and sleeves: Circular needles in different lengths and set of double pointed needles, size to obtain the right gauge. Recommended size: 4 ½ US size 7. For cuffs and collar: Circular needles and set of double pointed needles 3 ½ US size 4. One long circular needle in each size is sufficient, if the magic loop technique is used.

Yarn: Ístex Léttlopi (50 g = approx. 100 m/109 yd) or similar wool yarn. The sweater featured is knitted up with Léttlopi colors 0053 Acorn Heather, 9423 Lagoon Heather and 0086 Light Beige Heather. You will need aproximately 150-150-200-250-250-250-300-350 g for main color and 50 g for each pattern color, except for size 12 years; 100 g for color B.

The pattern requires basic knowledge of knitting techniques: Cast on, knit and purl, increases (M1R and M1L) and decreases (k2tog). You will be working stranded colorwork with two and three colors simultaneously and a little grafting is needed for finishing. Tips and explanations are incorporated in the pattern description, as well as charts, abbreviations and other useful information.