Mija (which means “turning” or “alternating” in Latvian) expresses the beauty of falling snowflakes and sunlight sparkling off crystal fractals. Day alternates to early nights, and autumn gives way to cascading snowflakes and snow-blanketed landscapes.

Mija is a top-down seamless yoke sweater. The ribbed neckline is followed by short rows at the back of the neck, which create a comfortable fit. The yoke features stranded colorwork that fades in hue with the interplay of geometric forms inspired by traditional Latvian knitting and crystalline geometry. The stranded colorwork features rows with either 2 or 3 colors, and some longer floats which are caught at the back. Optional waistline shaping creates a flattering fit, and the hem and cuffs are edged with echoing fractal colorwork, and finished off with ribbing.

Yarn
Miss Babs Yowza
100% Superwash Merino Wool; 560 yd/8 oz (512 m / 227 g) skeins
2 (2, 2, 2, 3) (3, 3, 3, 3) skeins in main color, shown in White Peppercorn, and 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) (1, 1, 1, 1) skein in each of three contrasting colors, shown in Ghost Ship, Tucked Away, and Rise and Shine

Or approximately 840 (890, 990, 1040, 1200) (1260, 1340, 1440, 1540) yards/769 (814, 906, 951, 1098) (1153, 1226, 1317, 1409) meters of DK weight yarn in main color, 90 (100, 110, 120, 140) (150, 160, 170, 180) yards/80 (90, 105, 115, 125) (135, 150, 160, 170) meters of DK weight yarn in CC1, 75 (85, 100, 110, 125) (135, 150, 160, 175) yards/70 (80, 90, 100, 115) (125, 135, 150,160) meters of DK weight yarn in CC2, and 50 (60, 75, 85, 100) (110, 125, 135, 150) yards/45 (55, 70, 80, 90) (100, 115, 125, 135) meters of DK weight yarn in CC3.

Sizes
XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL)

Finished Measurements
Chest: 34¼ (37¾, 41¼, 47¼, 51½) (54, 58¼, 62½, 65¼)”/85.5 (94.5, 103, 118, 128.5) (135, 145.5, 156, 163) cm

Shown in Size M (41¼”/103 cm), to be worn with 3-5”/8- 12 cm of positive ease.

Needles

• US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needle, 24”/60 cm long, or size to obtain gauge
• US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needle, double-pointed needles or preferred method for knitting small circumferences in the round or size to obtain gauge
• US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle, 24”/60 cm long, or one size smaller than needle used to obtain gauge
• US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle, double-pointed needles or preferred method for knitting small circumferences in the round or one size smaller than needle used size to obtain gauge

Gauge
Blocked: 21 stitches and 28 rows = 4”/10 cm square in stockinette stitch and stranded colorwork.
Unblocked: 21 stitches and 28 rows = 4”/10 cm square in stockinette stitch and stranded colorwork.

Please note that gauge can vary between plain stockinette stitch in 1 color and stranded colorwork. Adjust needle size where necessary so that the correct gauge is achieved throughout the garment.

Notions
Stitch holders or waste yarn
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle