Pattern Preview for Strands of Joy by Anna Johanna
Strands of Joy features 20 versatile colourwork patterns, including sweaters and cardigans as well as an elegant dress, a warming hat and a kid's pullover. The patterns are worked seamlessly from top down. Cast on a mindless two-colour project or let your mind find peace in more complicated knits that require you to stay focused. Patterns for adult sweaters and cardigans come in 9 to 12 sizes and are graded to fit up to a 62" bust at minimum. You can also find them with pattern specs, such as yardage and sizing, on Ravelry.
REED
Reed is an adorable top-down design worked in the round. The slightly cropped hem ensures a great fit. Anna Johanna designed the sweater in Manos del Uruguay’s Alpaca Heather, a wool-alpaca yarn in sport weight.
CLOVER
This open cardigan knitted in Brooklyn Tweed’s much loved base Shelter features raglan seams, a wide shawl collar, an A-line shape and interesting moss stitch details. Clover is named after the cute colourwork on the hem.
PIRTA
Have you ever tried steeking? Pirta is knitted seamlessly from the top down in the round. The steeked cardigan is finished with pockets and buttonbands. The soft shades of Kässäkerho Pom Pom’s Donegal DK are the perfect fit for this design.
INCANDESCENT
The all-over rose colourwork hat is a nice, smaller knit. You get an amazing effect when choosing a gradient yarn for the contrasting colour. The sample hats were made in La Bien Aimée’s Merino Singles and SnailYarn’s Merino Singles.
FOLIAGE
A gorgeous unisex sweater with a classic leaf pattern on the yoke and cuffs. Corrugated ribbing adds detail and gives a neat finishing touch. The sample was knitted in The Fibre Co.’s Cumbria, a fingering weight yarn with lots of character.
WOODLAND
Cute colourwork makes Woodland a true favorite. Cut open or omit the steek and turn it into a sweater. The sample was knitted in rustic but soft New Zealandsk Lammeuld by G-uld.
LEHTO
Lehto featured an airy leaf pattern on the yoke and cuffs. The hem is slightly cropped and the body boxy which created a relaxed fit. The top-down sweater is made in John Arbon Textiles sport weight Yarnadelic. For a children’s version, take a look at Taimi.
WEIGHTLESS
This yoke sweater is worked seamplessly from the top down. The neckline, cuff and hem feature garter stitch instead of more traditional ribbing. For the sample, Anna Johanna chose Ocean by the Sea’s Quill and Frida Fuchs’ Mini Füchse Sock.
TAIMI
Lehto for the small ones in the family! This cute sweater comes in sizes from ages 6 months to 12 years. Taimi was knitted in John Arbon Textiles Yarnadelic, a sport weight yarn with an inspiring colour range.
EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES
This relaxed A-line sweater was knitted in La Bien Aimée’s Merino Singles. The romantic rose pattern decorates the hem and makes an otherwise simple design into a true stunner.
ROSE HIP
Rose Hip is a modern, cropped top-down sweater featuring colorwork on both the yoke and hem and fascinating corrugated ribbing. Johanna designed this piece in Spincycle Yarn’s sport weight Wilder and Dyed in the Wool.
MOHAIR FUDGE
Mohair Fudge is knitted in Nurja’s hand dyed Merino Single and Mohair held together. This top down design features extra long sleeves, a split hem, colourwork yoke and a cosy brioche cowl.
JOJO
Jojo is a classic V-neck cardigan with a relaxed fit, long sleeves and symmetrical colourwork. The sample was knitted in Hedgehog Fibre’s Merino DK.
FLOWER POWER
Flower Power was knitted in DK weight Maija by the Finnish yarn brand Aara. The design features a floral retro-inspired yoke and is worked seamlessly from the top down before steeked and finished with buttonbands in corrugated ribbing.
THISTLE
Thistle is what colourwork dreams are made of. The retro-like pattern, wide shawl collar and relaxed, boxy fit make it the ultimate everyday knit. The steeked top-down cardigan is made in Tukuwool Fingering.
JUXTAPOSITION
This yoke sweater is an ode to gradients. All-over colourwork plays with different shades of grey – or your colour of choice! Juxtaposition was designed in fingering weight Handu Merinosukkis.
MAIJA
The geometric shape and relaxed look make Maija an adorable addition to your handmade wardrobe. The beginner friendly pattern is worked seamlessly from the top down. The sample was knitted in Tukuwool Hakamaa DK, a 2-ply Finnish wool yarn.
SPROUT
Sprout features colourwork on both the yoke and hem. The cropped design is knitted in Le Petit Lambswool, an incredibly light yet warm wool yarn by the French-Danish yarn brand Biches et Bûches.
CALM
This relaxed dress is perfect for both long summer nights and – especially when knitted with long sleeves – for winters as well. The flowy hem mirrors the flower motif of the yoke. Anna Johanna knitted her sample in Aara’s fingering weight Liina which is a blend of alpaca, linen and silk.
HEARTS ON A STRING
The heart damask pattern on the hem is not what one would call a mindless knit but it sure is an eye catcher. Hearts on a String is worked seamlessly from the top down. The sample was knitted in Merino Sock 3ply by the Finland-based yarn shop and dye studio Nurja.
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