I am ever so pleased with the photos Kim Müller took of Francesca Golfetto wearing the Nora Sweater. The outfit was planned carefully since I desperately wanted to include the science-fiction sculptural shoes by Camilla Skovgaard, which were bought on sale for the photo shoot of my book to match the taupe coloured yarn in Jacket in Cross (see sneak-peak-1) and this yarn, BC Garn Semilla Fino, see garn.dk. So was the light and bare background necessary to focus all the attention on the cables, as well as Francesca’s elegance. A mélange taupe in a delicate fingering weight yarn was chosen for this slightly fitted stylish cable sweater with a shawl collar. I chose a Missoni shaped puffed sleeve for a modern twist but you can chose a set in sleeve option if you prefer. A voluptuous small cable encased by side cables, reverse stocking stitch and double seed stitch was the beginning of this design. The test knit of the English pattern has just started in my Ravelry group, please join us if you like. I am happy to announce that Familien will publish the Norwegian pattern, with the top two of these photos, in their “Vårens Strikkebok”.

The English pattern will be published in my Ravelry store after completed test knitting, here are the pattern details, in case you want to take part in the test knitting, or are interested in the pattern:

Size: S (M, L, XL)

Finished measurements                                                                                                    Bust:         90 (94, 99, 104) cm/35.5 (37, 39, 41)”                                                                      Waist:       78 (82, 87, 92) cm/30.75 (32.25, 34.25, 36.25)”                                                         Hip:           90 (94, 99, 104) cm/35.5 (37, 39, 41)”                                                                     Length:     56.5 (57.5, 58.5, 59.5) cm/22.25 (22,75, 23, 23.5)”                                               Sleeve length:  46cm/18”

Yarn: BC Garn Semilla Fino in sh ox103 (100% certified ecological wool, 240m/262yds, 50 g): 7 (8, 9, 10) balls; 1560 (1800, 2040, 2280) m/ 1706 (1969, 2231, 2493) yds, bcgarn.

Alternative yarns                                                                                                          Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift (100% wool, 105 m/115 yds, 25 g) jamiesonsofshetland.  Rauma, Røros Lamullsgarn (100% lambswool, 250 m/273 yds, 50 g) raumaull. Or a similar 4ply/Fingering yarn.

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 (80 cm/32″) circular needle and 3.5 mm/US 4 DPNs or needle to match gauge.

Notions: Cable needle, 2 stitch markers, yarn needle and scrap yarn for running yarn markers.

Gauge: 28 sts and 38 rows in reverse stocking stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. 26 sts and 38 rows in double seed pattern measures 10 cm/4″ square. 40 sts in cable panel on sleeve measures 12 cm/4.75″ wide.

Notes: Sleeves and body are worked in the round until armhole and then are worked back and forth. The large cable on front is changed to small cable with rev st st and dbl seed st before neck shaping. The small cable on the sleeves is the centre of the large cable on the body. The I-cord cast off tightens the collar, so if you prefer to it to lie flatter, bind off in pattern instead. Chose if you want to work a puff sleeve or a set-in sleeve.

I have not made a knitting review of 2013, nor made too many new year resolutions, but I am working on a list of my most essential discoveries of 2013 which I will share next.