Finally, I have been able to release Atika. The cowl and the loose sleeves were stunningly worn by Alexandria Eissinger at Pholk, with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling, dress by Judith Bech, jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo and brilliantly captured by photographer  Eivind Røhne for the Norwegian magazine Made by Me. I am thrilled that I have been able to gather the same team again – hence the delay in releasing this pattern – and our photo shoot is today – more will be revealed later.  As usual my test knitters had some great suggestions for improvements of the English pattern, and I followed their advice. Below is the essential pattern information.

ATIKA                                                                                                                                                        A cowl to warm your shoulders or your neck. Or why not wear it as top with matching loose sleeves gracing a stunning dress like this designed by Judith Bech. Both the cowl and the loose sleeves are knitted in the round using a beautiful reversible stitch pattern called Hearts of Oak with both texture and a drapy edge. Make your own perfect yarn by combining a lace weight yarn like the luscious Dreamline Soul from Du Store Alpakka with a fingering yarn like Merino Tweed from Pickles.

Sizes:                                                                                                                                             Cowl: One Size     Loose Sleeves: S/M (L/XL, 2XL)

Finished Measurements:                                                                                                    Cowl: Width: 26.5 cm/10.5″   Length: 109 cm/43″                                                                   Loose Sleeves: Bottom 23.5 (25, 28) cm/9.25 (9.75, 11)”. Top: 32.5 (34.5, 37) cm/12.75, (13.5, 14.5)”. Length: 40 (42, 44) cm/15.75 (16.5, 17.25)”

Yarns: Du Store Alpakka, Dreamline Soul (68% baby alpaca, 32% nylon, 25 g, 177 m/195 yds). Sample is knitted in DL214 Melange green/blue tones. http://www.dustorealpakka.com/garn-sortiment/?category=29                                       Pickles, Merino Tweed (100% wool, 100 g, 380 m/415 yds). Sample is knitted in PMT551 Mountain Far. http://shop.pickles.no/en/products/yarn/pickles-merino-tweed/           Note: Yarns are held together throughout.                                                                            Cowl: 3 skeins of Dreamline Soul, 2 skeins of Merino Tweed; 424 m/464 yds of each yarn.   Loose Sleeves: 2 skeins of Dreamline Soul, 1 skein of Merino Tweed; 318 m/348 yds of each yarn.  Or another DK/8 ply yarn held singularly.

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 circular needle (80 cm/32″) for cowl. 4 mm/US 6 DPNs for loose sleeves. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: 1 m/1 yard thin round elastic for loose sleeves, 3 stitch markers and yarn needle.

Gauge: 20 sts and 30 rnds in st st using both yarns held together measures 10 cm/4″ square.

Notes: The cowl is knitted sideways and in the round. You can adjust the length by removing or adding pattern repeats of 10 sts. If you want to wear it twice around your neck, add 2 pattern repeats. The loose sleeves are knitted in the round to the end. An elastic band is threaded through the stitches on the wrong side of the top of each sleeve. Use knit-in elastic if you prefer.