“Strands of Joy Volume II” by Anna Johanna

Strands of Joy II is the long-awaited sequel to Anna Johanna’s popular first book: this new collection is centered around big colorwork patterns and untreated wool yarn. The book contains 17 knitting patterns ranging from sweaters and cardigans to accessories. All the designs have been inspired by Anna Johanna’s youth at the turn of the millennium, sprinkling the modern knits with a dash of nostalgia.

We were lucky enough to take part in this beautiful project with the ‘Berry Bushes’ cardigan knitted in Ulysse ‘genêt’ and ‘amarante’: a cardigan with raglan armholes and a loose fit with a bright, contrasting jacquard pattern highlighting the waist and adorning the sleeves.

Pattern: « Berry Bushes » d’Anna Johanna, disponible en anglais dans le livre Strands of Joy Vol.II en 10 tailles.

SIZES

XXS-XS-S (M-L-XL) 2XL-3XL-4XL-5XL

Finished measurements

Bust, waist and hip circumference: 42-45.5-49 (52.5-55.75-59.25) 62.75-66-69.5-76.5’’ / 105-114-122.5 (131-139.5-148) 156.5-165-174-191 cm

Upper arm circumference: 12.5-13-14 (15.25-18-18.75) 19.75-20.5-21.75-23.25’’ / 31.5-32.5-35 (38-45-46.5) 49.5-51.5-54.5-58 cm

This cardigan is meant to be worn with positive ease. Choose a size with approx. 11.75’’ / 30 cm positive ease at bust circumference.

YARN

Ulysse by De Rerum Natura (100% French mérinos d’Arles and Portuguese black merino woolen spun, 203 yds / 185 m –50 ​g): 5-5-5 (5-6-6) 6-7-7-7 balls of MC and 3-3-4 (4-5-5) 6-7-7-8 balls of CC

OR

MC: 820-865-940 (995-1015-1090) 1165-1230-1240-1355 yds / 750-790-860 (910-930-995) 1065-1125-1135-1240 m,

CC: 510-600-650 (770-885-985) 1175-1230-1410-1525 yds / 465-550-595 (705-810-900) 1075-1135-1290-1395 m.

Shown in colors Genet (MC) and Amarante (CC).

Skill level: Advanced

Notes on the pattern: Berry Bushes is an oversized cardigan with fun color blocking on the waist. The cardigan is worked flat, seamlessly top-down. It has long raglan sleeves and a boxy shape with no waist shaping. The waist has a beautiful leaf pattern after which the colors are switched, and the hem will be worked with a different color. In case you’re having a hard time matching the row tension for both stockinette stitch and the colorwork, the stockinette stitch gauge is more important for achieving a right-sized cardigan.

About the designer: Anna Johanna is a knitwear designer from Jyväskylä, Central Finland. She is known for her often-romantic knits with much love for details, textures and colors. Since 2020, this former statistician has been designing full-time. Anna Johanna’s debut book, Strands of Joy, was published in 2021.

« Strands of Joy II  » is available here:

Photos credits: Laine Magazine

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