ABOUT THIS DESIGN
This pullover with a very old traditional ornaments (they go back to Sanskrit even and in Russia we find them on pillows, towels and clothes from the 9th century) was created especially for The Solovetsky Islands or Solovki, which are an archipelago located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea, Russia. This amazing place full of history, inhabited by wonderful people and has very dense interesting history.
Solovki are also famous for its Monastery which was founded in the 15th century. Monks created canals all around Solovki islands which connect one lake with the other so they could travel there from Skit to Skit by the boat. Monks live very secluded life: they fish, collect berries, have bees and their own cows to produce cheese.
This design goes back to the traditional Pomor Fisherman sweater. Check out photos. It is also believed that every sweater had different ornaments so every man was distiguished in the sea. Also for the good luck the combination of ornaments were chosen by their wives or sisters, cause every woman knew the best her husband or brother and knew his weaknesses and she wanted to protect him so she chose the ornaments which would help him the most. Check out old slavic and russian pagan ornaments and their meaning.
What you should also know that Russian North, Arkhangelsk region is the home of Russian heroic epics - bylinas. Known as Russian sagas, were one of the oldest literary monuments.
The ornament on my sweater design is also with a deep deep meaning and it is very protective, but for women, because it is more women’s fisherman sweater, so to say. It means frutility (in any meaning, in family, in life or at work) and it creates happiness.
As usual, I wanted to make very durable, but beautiful design for wearing outside as well as inside without jacket or under. I was inspired by Pomors or Pomory people who lived on the shore of The White Sea and used to be great and brave sailors and fishermen of the wild North of Russia. Their name itself means “on the sea”. Sea and woods are two main elements of their culture.
Being always outside wandering taiga (dense forest) and sailing the great seas without any fear of cold is a big dream and I hope this sweater will be a good start for someone’s way of life.

     SIZES:

Finished Dimensions of the Garment
95 (105, 116, 120, 135) cm / 37 (41, 45, 47, 53)” circumference at bust of sweater.
5 sizes: 37 (41, 45, 47, 53).
Intended Ease: 8 cm 3” for width and 1 cm for length
Sample shown in size 37 with 8 cm 3” ease on model (model bust circumference is 87 cm).

     CONSTRUCTION NOTES:

Pullover is started with the provisional cast-on using two circular needles to begin a piece with live stitches on both sides. The Yoke is worked then, bottom-up. After this the body and sleeves are worked top-down.

     GAUGE

15,5 stitches & 23 rows = 10 cm (4 inches) in stockinette on 4,5 mm needles for the yoke and body, after blocking with bulky wool
Note: You can have different sizes of needles for getting the gauge

     YARN

Photographed in MC - 0086 Light Beige and CC - 1238 Dusk Red + 1 skein of Ístex Lettlopi in color 1409 Garnet Red Heather (similar to1238 Dusk Red of Álafosslopi) for collar and sleeve cuffs.