About Wartime Farm Sleeveless Pullover - Men’s

This extremely popular pattern was based on a sleeveless pullover worn on BBC TV’s Wartime Farm series by one of the presenters, Alex Langlands. The garment worn on the show was itself a recreation of a sleeveless pullover pattern published in the 1930s. This stylish pullover features two recurring motifs, the main motif incorporates the popular OXO pattern and eight pointed star, which is interspersed with an attractive peerie motif, with simple triangles for added emphasis. The colours used are based on those suggested in the original 1930s pattern.

The pullover is knitted in the round, with steek stitches added at the the armhole and V-neck opening; the shoulders are grafted together to complete the seamless construction.

The simple, repeating all-over pattern makes this a great pattern for knitters wishing to try circular garment knitting for the first time, likewise it is also an excellent pattern to try stranded colourwork for the first time too.

Full colour charts are provided for each size and a range of 12 sizes to fit from 30 inch (76cm) chest up to 60 inch (152cm) are included.

The yarn used is Susan Crawford Excelana 4 Ply or Susan Crawford Byre, both yarns are a pure wool, standard fingering (4 Ply) weight. Both yarns are perfect for stranded colourwork but offer quite different looks for the same garment.

The pattern contains full colour charts and clear written instructions as well as schematic diagrams.

Gauge

1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th sizes only:
30 sts and 31 rounds = 10cm (4in) measured over stranded colourwork knitted in the round, after blocking.
2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th sizes only:
28 sts and 29 rounds = 10cm (4in) measured over stranded colourwork knitted in the round, after blocking.

Requirements

Susan Crawford Excelana 4 Ply, 100% British wool (159m / 174yds per 50g skein)
3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) skeins, shade Saharan Sand – Yarn A
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins, shade Cornflower Blue – Yarn B
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2) skeins, shade English Mustard – Yarn C
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins, shade Persian Grey – Yarn D
1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3) skeins, shade Icelandic Moss – Yarn E
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2) skeins, shade Ruby Red – Yarn F

Or

Susan Crawford Byre100% British wool, a unique blend of Jacob, white Shetland and black Shetland fleeces,4 Ply weight (400m / 436yds per 100g skein)

1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins, shade Old Stone Wall – Yarn A
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skein, shade Night Sky – Yarn B
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skein, shade Ragwort – Yarn C
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skein, shade Loam – Yarn D
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skein, shade Moss Covered Wall – Yarn E
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skein, shade Room Of My Own – Yarn F

Suggested Needles

1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th sizes only:

Small needles:
2.75mm (US 2) circular needle (80-100cm in length)
Set of 2.75mm (US 2) DPNS
2.75mm (US 2) circular needle (80-100cm in length)

Large needles:
3mm (US 3) circular needle (80-100cm in length)

2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th sizes only:

Small needles:
2.75mm (US 2) circular needle (80-100cm in length)
Set of 2.75mm (US 2) DPNS
2.75mm (US 2) circular needle (80-100cm in length)

Large needles:
3.5mm (US 4) circular needle (80-100cm in length)

Notions
Waste yarn or stitch holders
Stitch markers

Techniques

Knitting in the round
Stranded colourwork
Working steeks
Cutting steeks
Blocking
Following a chart

Errata for this pattern can be found on the Susan Crawford Vintage website.