Linen stitch has a lot going for it: it creates a fabric that doesn’t curl and doesn’t require any edge finishings, it allows for attractive, subtle colour effects reminiscent of weaving, and it produces the neatest intarsia known to knitterkind - no loose stitches where the colours meet!

While it is true that linen stitch generally creates a firmer, less stretchy fabric, here the bias cut of the body and the larger needle size lends a lovely drape to the garment.

The fit is meant to be slightly oversized, but if you like your jumpers to be more figure-hugging, the design allows for that. Take a look at the photos: they show the size S sample both on a size S model and on a Size L dress form.

The simple drop-shoulder shape makes this jumper a moderately easy knit. The only slightly more advanced technique is the intarsia knitting.
Skills required are: knit, purl, slip, basic intarsia technique, PUK (pick up and knit, for the sleeves), mattress stitch seaming. Increases and decreases are explained in the pattern.

Along with the jumper comes a loose roll-neck cowl (one size). Additional skills required for this are provisional cast-on and grafting (Kitchener stitch).

The directions contain the original colour scheme*, but also tips for coming up with your own, as this pattern is great for using up oddments / scraps!

If you want to recreate the original model, you will need the following yarns (for jumper and cowl):

• Drops Lima (65% wool, 35% alpaca): 4/4/5/5/5 balls Sea Green Mix, 3/3/3/4/4 balls Dark Purple, 1/1/2/3/3 balls Ice Blue, 1/1/1/2/2 balls Grey Blue, 1 ball Pistachio, 1 ball Purple Mix, 1 ball Heather, 1 ball Rust Mix, 1 ball Ruby Red, 1 ball Petrol Mix
• Drops Karisma (100% wool): 1 ball Grey Purple, 1 ball Blue Turquoise
• Lang Yarns Merino 120 (100% wool): 2 balls Pink Mauve

If you make your own yarn choices: the overall yardage required is approx. 1,260/1,340/1,420/1,550/1,650 m // 1,378/1,465/1,553/1,695/1,805 yd for the jumper and 110 m / 120 yd for the cowl.

You will also need:

• 6 mm (US 10) circular needle, 80 cm or longer, or size to achieve tension (gauge)
• 2 stitch markers, tapestry needle, tape measure, scissors

And for the cowl:

• length of scrap yarn for provisional cast-on
• second circular needle for grafting

*Please note that the patterning will vary somewhat in the five different sizes (see last picture).

The jumper was named after a wonderfully uplifting reel, the first one in this set.
Many thanks to my sweet neighbour Gail for modelling!