I knit all my wonderful memories from a family vacation in Svaneke into the Svaneke Sweater. I put in the waves rolling onto the beach, the herringbone from all the smoked herring we had, the net we weave as a family, my brother’s obsession with birds – even little Victor, my lovely grandson, is found in this sweater.

It is worked top down; first you knit the body, and then you pick up stitches for the sleeves. I used a Worsted weight rustic Highland Wool to get a cozy sweater for fall and winter and designed it to have a lot of ease and extra-long sleeves.

There are many different patterns in this sweater, but they are easier to knit than you might think. You must be able to adjust a simple pattern to a changing stitch count on the sleeves – for this reason, I don’t recommend this sweater for a beginner knitter. However, if you are able to “read” your knitting (count your knitted stitches, basically), and you’re feeling adventurous, it is the perfect project.

Sizes 1-2-3 (4-5-6) 7-8-9

Chest circumference on finished garment
90-102-111 (120-132-141) 150-162-171 cm / 35.4-40.2-43.7 (47.2-52-55.5) 59-63.8-67.3 inches

Length on finished garment
56-56-56 (58-58-58) 60-60-60 cm /22-22-22 (22.8-22.8-22.8) 23.6-23.6-23.6 inches

Fit
Svaneke is a big, cozy sweater, designed to be worn with 10-20 cm / 4-8 inches of positive ease. Measure your chest, add the desired ease, and choose the size closest to that number.
You can easily adjust the length of both body and sleeves, but that will of course affect the yardage.

Yardage
500-550-600 (700-800-975) 1100-1200-1300 grams worsted weight wool (200 meter/100 gr)

Yardage is estimated and may vary between knitters!

The sample is knit in Highland wool, the Platingrå colorway, from By Kiilerich: https://bykiilerich.com/collections/hojland-worsted

Suggested needle size
3.25 mm / 3 circular needles, 80 cm for ribbing (using magic loop when needed)
4 mm / US6 circular needles, 80 cm for ribbing (using magic loop when needed)
4 mm / US6 or smaller cable needle
8 mm / 11 circular or straight needles for the herringbone stitch

Gauge
20 stitches x 28 rows/rounds in stockinette on needle 4 mm / US 6 (or needle required to get gauge) = 10x10 cm / 4x4 inches

Note: Needle size is just a suggestion. Adjust needle size if needed to obtain gauge.

Pay extra attention to your gauge when working the sleeves, and when working the front section flat. Many knitters tend to have a tighter gauge when doing small circumference knitting. If this happens to you, you will have to go up a needle size. Also, many knitters tend to have a looser gauge when purling – if this happens to you, you can work your purl stitches on a smaller needle.

For this sweater you also need to swatch for the herringbone section. You must meet the stitch gauge (20 sts per 10 cm / 4 inches) in the herringbone, but you will have a very loose row gauge.