Instructions to knit your own ‘Léopoldine’ Sweater for women, in sizes XS, S, M, L, XL and XXL.

A playful patchwork of cables, colourwork and bobbles echo the graphic and beautiful costumes of the Ballets Russes, a constant source of inspiration for my sweaters.

Léopoldine is knit in either worsted or Aran-weight yarn from the top down, with three increase rounds in the yoke. After the final colourwork band, the sleeve stitches are separated from the body and put on holders. The body is then worked in a cable pattern to your desired length. To finish, the sleeves are knitted in another cable pattern.

If you’re not up to the cabling, this sweater would be just as graphic if the body and sleeves were simply worked in plain stocking stitch. Just be sure to check your gauge; you may need to switch to smaller needles as many knitters find a difference in tension between colourwork and plain knitting.

Keeping warm will be colourful, textural and fun this winter!

Materials needed

1 size 4 mm (US 6, UK 8) circular needle 60 cm (24 inches) long for the neck ribbing. You may prefer a shorter circular needle (40 cm (16 inches) or double-pointed needles for the ribbing at the cuffs.

1 size 4.5 mm (US 7, UK 7) circular needle 80 cm (32 inches) long for the yoke and body or needles to get gauge. You may prefer a shorter circular needle (40 cm (16 inches) or double-pointed needles for the sleeves.

2 stitch holders or waste yarn

1 large cable needle

Yarn

Any worsted-weight (#4 Medium) yarn that knits to a gauge of 20 stitches per 10 cm on 4.5 mm (US 7, UK 7) needles in Fair Isle. I used a basic 4-ply worsted ecru yarn for my sample and, as the yoke was made up of leftovers from my stash, I used a variety of worsted and fingering-weight yarns held double.

Level of difficulty and skills required

Intermediate/advanced. This pattern requires chart-reading skills and knowledge of working short rows. It also assumes knowledge of the Fair Isle technique (stranded colourwork) and cable knitting.

Metrage

MC (white) : 750 (850, 950, 1000, 1150, 1200) Metres / 820 (930, 1040, 1090, 1260, 1310) Yards

For the yoke colours: oddments from your stash (my sample uses 4 different colours): CC1 (red) : about 65 m / 70 y

CC2 (mustard yellow) : about 25 m / 28 y

CC3 (burgundy) : about 65 m / 70 y

CC4 (rose) : about 25 m / 28 y

When you buy this pattern, you will automatically be sent a link to download a pdf directly to your computer. If you wish to integrate your pattern bought on my website into your Ravelry library, or have any other questions about the pattern, please send me an email: hello@sophieochera.com