Rosa is a delightful, easy to wear sweater, ideal for almost any occasion; it is warm and functional, and can be worn with trousers, skirt, shorts or over a dress. It really is so very versatile.Rosa was inspired by the Rose Cardigan from The Vintage Shetland Project which featured a rose motif similar to that used in Rosa and Floribunda. I have simplified the motif, ensuring that only two colours are ever worked on any one round and used a DK weight yarn, making this a highly enjoyable, interesting and speedy knit.
Rosa is also inspired by Floribunda also from the Evolution collection. After completing Floribunda I couldn’t stop thinking about a sweater version of such a stunning cardigan.

Rosa is worked in the round from the bottom up meaning every round is worked on the right side of the knitting - every round knit. An attractive twisted rib stitch is worked for the welt, cuffs and bands giving a real sharpness to these sections of the sweater.

Once the lower body is completed, the sleeves are knit and then the three pieces are joined together and the upper body worked in one piece. Decreases are worked at the armhole to remove excess fabric and adding a pleasing ‘fully fashioned’ detail. Short rows are worked next to ensure the front neckline sits lower than the front.

The stunning yoke is worked next with decreases worked between the patterns drawing the yoke in to the neckline. The neckband sits neatly but comfortably around the neck with no danger of it either falling off the shoulders or restricting the wearer.

The body is unshaped, its finished length designed to sit on the hip bone; however it can simply be knitted shorter or longer depending on the finished length preferred. To shorten the upper body, fewer rounds can be worked when knitting the lower part of the body, avoiding any complicated changes.

Rosa is knitted in Barn DK, an incredibly soft 100% wool, using British fleeces spun locally in nearby Yorkshire. The natural soft grey tones have then been hand dyed in-house by myself and my team in three ‘Rose’ shades; Rosehip, Rosa and Frond.

In the photos I am wearing the fourth size (to accommodate my tummy girth and upper arm circumference) with 15cm (6in) of positive ease across the chest. I’ve designed Rosa to be worn with 10-15cm (4-6in) of positive ease but you can go down a size if you prefer a neater fit.

The pattern includes instructions for nine sizes between 28 inch (70cm) and 62 inch (156cm) chest and includes full colour charted instructions, a comprehensive schematic diagram and sizing chart

Requirements

Susan Crawford Barn, 100% British wool (225m/246yds per 100g skein)

4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8) 100g skeins, shade Dry Stone Wall
2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3) 10g skeins, shade Rosehip
2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) 10g skeins, shade Rosa
1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) 10g skeins, shade Frond

Suggested needles:

Small needles: 3.75mm (US 5) circular needle (80–100cm in length)
Set of 3.75mm (US 5) DPNs
Large needles: 4.5mm (US 7) circular needle (40cm in length)
4.5mm (US 7) circular needle (80–100cm in length)
Set of 4.5mm (US 7) DPNs

Notions:
Waste yarn or stitch holders
Stitch markers

Techniques:
Knitting in the round
Short row shaping
Following a chart
Knitting a Fair Isle pattern

Yarn kits are also available offering a considerable discount on purchasing the yarn separately.