An Islender is to Norwegians what the Aran jumper is to the Irish and the Guernsey is to the British; a thick woollen sweater made to keep sailors warm and dry when at sea. I have made my own somewhat more modern take on it, with a top-down construction to more easily adapt length to the wearer, and lighter yarn more suitable for us landlubbers

Yarn
Hillesvåg Vilje (100% Norwegian lambswool, 375 / 410 yds, 100g)
See alternatives here.

Main colour (white): (775, 790, 813, 850) (910, 949, 944, 1028) (1057, 1098, 1130, 1173) (1119, 1164, 1214, 1278) m / (847, 864, 889, 930) (995, 1038, 1032, 1124) (1156, 1201, 1236, 1283) (1224, 1273, 1328, 1398) yds.

Contrast colour (black): (404, 412, 424, 444) (475, 495, 492, 536) (551, 573, 590, 612) (584, 607, 634, 667) m / (442, 451, 464, 485) (519, 541, 539, 587) (603, 627, 645, 669) (639, 664, 693, 729) yds.

Sizes
(1, 2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7, 8) (9, 10, 11, 12) (13, 14, 15, 16)

Garment bust: (80, 85, 90, 95) (100, 105, 110, 115) (120, 125, 130, 135) (140, 145, 150, 155) cm / (31, 33, 35, 37) (39, 41, 43, 45) (47, 49, 51, 53) (55, 57, 59, 61)”
To be worn with 0-5 cm / 0-2” positive ease at the bust.

Gauge
24 sts x 32 rnds = 10 cm / 4” in stranded colourwork and stockinette.

Needles
Gauge-size needles, and 1 mm below gauge-size needles for rib.
The sample was made using 4 mm (US 6) and 3 mm (US 2 ½), but I expect most will need smaller needles to get gauge.

Notions
4 stitch markers, darning needle

Construction
This pattern has two shoulder versions. Version A is easier as it has no short-rows, whereas Version B is more challenging as it makes you work short-rows whilst doing colourwork. This gives a more sloped shoulder. I made Version A for those with less experience with colourwork and short-rows, as these can be difficult to do simultaneously when it’s your first time using either technique.

In short, this sweater is worked top-down with (version B) or without (version A) short-rows while working stranded colourwork in the round. There are three short steeks, two for the armholes and one for the neckline. You can cut open the steeks once they are bound off even though the rest of your project is on the needles, so that you can try it on as you go. Length is easily adjustable.