Finnish below/

Mesikämmen sweater is a cute oversize kid’s sweater with puffed sleeves made of soft and fluffy boucle yarn and DK weight yarn held together. The sweater is slightly cropped in length, which makes it an ideal pair for tights/pants with suspenders or dresses. You can work the body longer if you wish, but remember that it will affect the yardage as well.

The name Mesikämmen refers to bear in Finnish. In ancient Finland the bear was a sacred animal whose name was taboo – too holy to say aloud. Therefore there are dozens of euphemisms for the word bear in Finnish. Mesikämmen is one of them – literally meaning “honeyhand”.

The construction is very simple and beginner-friendly yet the combination of the textures of the combed wool yarn and boucle yarn makes the design interesting. I made my sample with Finnish combed wool along with alpaca boucle yarn; original Finnish sheep wool is softer than that of many other European races, resembling merino wool. Combing technique makes the fibers aligned and thus the yarn is smoother and suitable for sensitive skin. You can substitute with any soft DK weight wool yarn. I will give suggestions for different boucle yarns as well, held single or double depending on the weight.

The sweater is knit top down starting from the ribbed neck band, which is knit with one thread of DK weight yarn. After the neck band the yoke is knit with DK yarn and boucle yarn held together (1 or 2 strands of boucle depending on the yarn you choose). After the simple raglan increases the sleeves are separated from the body. The ribbed wrist bands are worked with 1 strand of DK weight yarn, whereas the hem is finished with garter stitch.

Please note that all the instructions in the pattern are given in cm and needle sizes in mm.

Sizes
62/68 (74/80) 86/92 (98/104) 110/116 cm (corresponds to 3–6 months (6–12 months) 1–2 years (2–4 years) 5–6 years)

Dimensions
Chest circumference: 64 (68) 72 (77) 80 cm. (This dimension applies only with the specified gauge.)
Sleeve length: 14 (17) 21 (23) 25 cm. (Note: length from underarm to wrist. The yoke will add the overall length of the sleeve.)
Length from under the neck band to hem: 27 (31) 35 (39) 43 cm.

Yarns and yardages

1 x Pirtin kehräämö Kampalanka 110x4 (100 % Finnish wool), 100 g=approx. 220 m. 100 (150) 150 (200) 200 g. OR any DK weight (merino) wool yarn.
2 x Teetee Cacao (89 % alpakka, 11 % polyamidi), 100 g= 500 m. 100 (100) 150 (200) 250 g. OR one of the following: 2 x Kremke Soul Alpaca Bouclé (100 g=500 m), 1 x Laines Du Nord Teddy B (50 g=120 m), 1 x Mohair Boucle by Canard (100 g=170 m).

Gauge
10x10 cm=12 sts/20 rows in stockinette st in 6 mm needles with DK weight yarn and 1–2 strands of boucle yarn held together. (Please note that the needle size is a recommendation only. Always check the gauge from a blocked swatch and change needle size if needed to obtain gauge.)

Needles and notions
6 mm needles or size needed to obtain gauge
3,5 mm needles for ribbing
5 mm needle for hem
If using magic loop technique, one longer (80–100 cm) circular needle of each size will do. Otherwise you’ll need 40 and 60 cm circulars for the body and DPNs for the sleeves.
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle

FIN:

Mesikämmen-paita on oversize-mallinen pehmeän pörröisestä bukleelangasta neulottu lasten villapaita. Paidan helma on lyhyehkö, jotta se sopii hyvin pidettäväksi esim. henkselihousujen tai mekkojen kanssa. Halutessasi voit neuloa helman pidemmäksi, mutta varaa silloin vähän reilummin lankaa.

Ohje on hyvin aloittelijaystävällinen: riittää, kun osaat oikean ja nurjan ja lisätä ja kaventaa. Yksinkertaisen paidan juju on bukleelangan ja villalangan välisessä kontrastissa.

Paita aloitetaan neulomalla pääntien joustin yksinkertaisella kampalangalla. Joustimen jälkeen otetaan mukaan 1–2 säiettä bukleelankaa (sen mukaan, minkä paksuista bukleelankaa käytät) ja tehdään raglanlisäykset, minkä jälkeen erotellaan hihat ja vartalo. Hihojen joustimet tehdään myös yksinkertaisella kampalangalla, vartalo-osan helmaan tulee ainaoikeinreunus.

Koot: 62/68 (74/80) 86/92 (98/104) 110/116

Mitat:
Rinnanympärys: 64 (68) 72 (77) 80 cm
Hihan pituus: 14 (17) 21 (23) 25 cm (huom! tämä on hihan pituus kainalosta ranteeseen; korkeahko kaarroke lisää hihan koko pituutta.)
Pituus pääntien joustimen alareunasta helmaan: 27 (31) 35 (39) 43 cm

Neuletiheys: 10x10 cm=12 s/20 krs valitsemallasi lankayhdistelmällä ja puikoilla nro 6. (Huom! Puikkokoko on vain suositus. Tee mallitilkku ennen neulomista, mittaa tiheys kastellusta ja kuivuneesta mallitilkusta ja muuta puikkokokoa tarpeen mukaan!)

Langat ja menekki
1 x Pirtin kehräämön kampalanka 110x4 (100 % villa), 100 g=n. 220 m. Menekki 100 (150) 150 (200) 200 g. TAI mikä tahansa DK-vahvuinen villalanka.
2 x Teetee Cacao (89 % alpakka, 11 % polyamidi), 100 g= 500 m. Menekki 100 (100) 150 (200) 250 g. TAI joku seuraavista: 2 x Kremke Soul Alpaca Bouclé (100 g=500 m), 1 x Laines Du Nord Teddy B (50 g=120 m), 1 x Mohair Boucle by Canard (100 g=170 m).