I hope these first days of September are going well for you and that everyone around you is settling back into their routines with serenity and renewed energy!
Here, we have chosen to start the new season with the sleek and elegant designs of the talented Japanese designer Hiromi Nagasawa @pucco_h, whose Sunday Brunch sweater you loved so much (and so did we) last autumn. We have worked on a British version of her beautiful Ridge sweater, which perfectly highlights the definition of our combed yarns: Albertine for a sophisticated long-sleeved version, and Alice for a more casual short-sleeved version, to be worn on its own in mid-season or layered under a large cardigan.
CONSTRUCTION
The RIDGE SWEATER is a modern, plain jumper featuring fine gentle ridges created by a half-twisted 1×1 rib pattern running downwards from the collar. The ribbed collar creates a stretchy opening that can be worn as a simple round neck or slightly stretched into a boat neck, depending on your preference.
This jumper is knitted seamlessly in the round from top to bottom: it starts with a Long-Tail Cast-On and after knitting a few rows in 1×1 rib, the collar is folded inwards and sewn on the wrong side.
Increases continue on both sides of the raglan sleeves until the body and sleeves are separated, then the body is shaped using increases and decreases worked on the same round.
The stitches left on hold for the sleeves are then picked up.
This pattern offers two sleeve options: a long-sleeved version with decreases to achieve a slightly fitted look, and a straight short-sleeved version that ends just above the elbow.
TECHNIQUES USED AND SKILL LEVEL
Thi pattern is an intermediate level and requires to know how to cast-on, bind off, increase and decrease, knit in the round and pick up stitches, make twisted stitches and a tubular bind off (optional). It includes a photo tutorial for making the collar sewn on the wrong side.
This pattern does not include any short rows. The front and back are identical and the motif is very easy to memorise. It does not present any particular difficulties, except for paying attention to the regularity of the knitting and the execution of the twisted stitches to obtain a neat result.
HOW TO PICK YOUR SIZE
The « Ridge sweater » is available in 9 sizes corresponding to the final measurements:
Finished bust circumference: 38.5 (41, 44.5, 48, 51)(55, 59, 63, 67)“ / 97.5 (104, 113, 122, 130)(140, 150, 160, 170) cm
Armhole circumference of the finished sweater: 11.5 (11.75, 12, 12.75, 13.75)(15, 16.5, 18, 19.5)” / 29 (29.5, 30.5, 32, 35)(38.5, 42, 46, 49.5) cm
Pattern « Ridge sweater » by Hiromi Nagasawa knitted in Albertine « badiane » in size 3 with approximately 23 cm of positive ease
If you choose a positive ease of 23 to 35 cm as recommended by the designer, you will obtain a relatively loose fit.
However, you can choose a size that allows you to obtain the ease that suits you best.
For example, if your chest measurement is 90 cm, you can choose:
- a size 2 for a positive ease of 14 cm at the chest for a slightly more fitted result (please ensure that the armhole circumference is suitable for your arm size)
or
- a size 3 for a comfortable 23 cm ease at the bust for a result identical to the versions photographed
or
- a size 4 for a 32 cm ease at the bust and a looser fit.
The top-down construction allows you to easily adjust the length of the sleeves and lower body to your preference.
YARN
This pattern is designed for fingering or sport weight yarn, resulting in a gauge of 25 sts x 34 rows. The suggested needle size to achieve this gauge is 3.25 mm. Be sure to swatch carefully and try different needle sizes to achieve the correct tension.
We knitted two versions of the Ridge Sweater, one with long sleeves in our Albertine yarn (90% organic Arles merino and 10% mulberry silk: 200 m / 50 g) in the colour ‘badiane’, and the other in a short-sleeved version using our Alice yarn (75% organic Arles merino and 25% linen; 216 m / 50 g) in the colour ‘lavande’.
Albertine is a four-ply yarn, very round and well twisted, which gives it excellent stitch definition. The Arles merino wool makes it very elastic, while the silk adds a subtle sophistication with a slightly satiny sheen and a beautiful drape. Knitted with this sample, the result is dense and very even, creating a soft, durable and comfortable jumper that is easy to wear, even to the office 🙂
Alice is a three-ply combed yarn whose original composition, blending Arles Merino wool and linen, gives it a less disciplined appearance while maintaining good stitch definition. The blend of materials creates a slightly mottled yarn with a few visible linen fibres that contribute to its lively appearance and make it very pleasant to knit and wear. The result is a softer and lighter yarn than Albertine, with a natural look and a warm, breathable feel.
To make the long-sleeved version in Albertine, you will need 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) (9, 10, 9, 11) balls of Albertine OR approximately 1312 (1422, 1586, 1695, 1832)(1941, 2078, 2187, 2324) yds / 1200 (1300, 1450, 1550, 1675) (1775, 1900, 2000, 2125) m of fingering yarn.
Pattern « Ridge sweater » by Hiromi Nagasawa knitted in Albertine « badiane »
To make the short-sleeved version in Alice, you will need 5 (6, 6, 6, 7) (7, 8, 8, 9) balls of Alice OR approximately 1094 (1203, 1312, 1422, 1531)(1640,1750, 1859, 1968) yds / 1000 (1100, 1200, 1300, 1400) (1500, 1600, 1700, 1800) m of fingering yarn.
Pattern « Ridge sweater » by Hiromi Nagasawa knitted in Alice « lavande » in size 3 with approximately 23 cm of positive ease
We are delighted to offer this pattern in both French and English on our website today 🙂 A Japanese version is also available on Ravelry.
I hope you’ll want to make this beautiful design by Hiromi your new autumn jumper 🙂
Thank you to Hiromi for this inspiring design, Anne-Laure for this magnificent sample, and Céline for wearing it so well!
About the designer:
Hiromi used to work as an architect for wooden structure buildings for a long time, but now she is a full time knit designer.
Her design style incorporates the joy of simplicity and comfort into everyday living. She likes the implication of basic stitch repeats. Also, she add functional shape to make the line of the garment beautiful and comfortable in wearing.
Hiromi is currently living in Tokyo with her partner and one cat.
Ravelry : pucco
Instagram : @pucco_h
Knitting of the Albertine “badiane”‘s sample: Anne-Laure @alargaut
Knitting of the Alice “lavande”‘s sample : Céline @tricotencours