The Maawhatu (said Maa – far – two) Jersey is made from special yarn which is 80% young kid mohair and 20% merino. The word Maawhatu means curly in te reo Māori and refers to the beautiful curls on the angora goats which this mohair yarn is from. These goats are raised at Ad Maiora Angoras on Banks Peninsular in the South Island of New Zealand, making the yarn completely traceable (www.admaiora.co.nz). The yarn has a beautiful halo and sheen to it, making a lightweight but cosy garment, being approximately a light fingering weight.
Maawhatu is cast on around the neck and a rib neckband is worked with short rows to lower the front. The lace pattern is commenced and stockinette grows between the panels as increases are worked. This continues down to the separation of the sleeves. The body is worked straight down and finished with a rib hem. Either an Italian sewn bind-off can be worked or a traditional bind-off. The sleeves are then picked up and worked down to a bracelet length with no shaping and then a rib cuff completes them.
This jersey can either be work with the stockinette (smooth) on the outside or with reverse stockinette (bumpy) on the outer. The reverse stockinette side is shown in the photo. The pattern is written so the stockinette (smooth) side is outer, for ease of making.
The mohair content in the yarn ‘sticks together’, so it does not lose its shape with the more open gauge. When substituting yarn, choose one with a mohair also if using the same weight yarn, or else a heavier weight yarn can be used (up to a DK), which will give a heavier fabric but gauge must still be met.

Finished Sizes
Maawhatu has sizes 1 – 9 and 2 - 4” / 5 – 10 cm of positive ease. Choose a size to knit that is between 2 - 4” / 5 - 10 cm larger than your actual bust size.
Sizes 1 – 9 have a finished garment Bust Circumference: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48) 52, 56, 60, 64” / 81 (91.5, 102, 112, 122) 132, 142, 152.5, 162.5 cm

Needles and Notions
US 5 / 3.5 mm and US 6 / 4 mm circular needles 32” / 80 cm long and for small circumference knitting. Adjust needle size as needed to obtain correct gauge.
Circular stitch markers, tapestry needle and waste yarn or cords to hold stitches on.

Yarn
Sample knit in Ad Maiora Angoras – 80% young goat mohair and 20% merino (3ply yarn with 100g / 380 yd or 347 m)
Approximately 1005 (1050, 1095, 1135, 1190) 1250, 1320, 1400, 1485 yds / 920 (960, 1000, 1040, 1090) 1150, 1210, 1280, 1360 m of yarn is required.

Gauge
22 stitches / 32 rows per 4” / 10cm using US 6 / 4 mm needle in stockinette in the round after blocking.