NEW! I just posted a Q&A on my blog that addresses a lot of the questions I’ve been getting about this pattern. Check it out!

My fascination with Dutch athletic uniforms began after I watched the Dutch speed skaters in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Their graphic, aerodynamic suits inspired me to design a mitten pattern this spring called “Go Dutch!”.

However, the fascination was intensified when the Netherlands’ national football (that’s “soccer” to the American readers), nicknamed the “Oranje,” made it to the World Cup finals this past summer. I had the good fortune of being in a tiny, old, wood-paneled pub in Rotterdam, watching the game projected onto a screen, when the team beat highly favored Brazil in the quarterfinal match. That day I decided to knit a tribute cardigan, and sketched up this design.

This cardigan is as bold as the “total football” of the Oranje, filled with graphic patterns that create both vertical and horizontal movement around the yoke. Surprising details like the striped hem facings, braids, and a row of tiny glass buttons make this piece one of a kind.

Hey, how many yards of the contrasting colors do I need?

32 inch: 200 of each; 36: 230 of each; 40: 260 of each; 44: 300 of each; 48: 320 of each; 52: 370 of each; 56: 395 of each.

Keep in mind that these numbers are approximate, and how tightly you strand your knitting can make a big difference!**