I am thrilled to show you the first of the four new designs made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in their Ask yarn; the sleeveless pullover Izana. Michael has photographed me wearing size S/M with 54 cm/21.25″ positive ease at the back of our house. The idea for this design was the silhouette of my latest ponchos, but only using the body part of it and not the sleeves. The stitch pattern I chose was a check pattern I have used before on my Yaelle design. The colour I picked for it was Olive Green. My brilliant Sample Knitter Nadja, aka stricknadel77 on Ravelry, made this for me while I was working on another design.

Yarn kits with an English or Norwegian pattern will be available directly from Hillesvåg early in September, while the English pattern will be test knitted beginning on the 7th of August before its release. Here is the introduction to the pattern: Named Izana Japanese for invite is this straight oversized sleeveless pullover where the extra width is turned into a sleeve-part. It is adorned with a basket weave pattern and crowned by I-cords around the neck as well as the armholes. Izana is worked, with a double hem at the bottom, in parts and seamed to make it hang better. The pullover is knitted in the airy comb yarn Ask from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

I have graded the pattern in these sizes: XS (S/M, L/XL, 2XL/3XL, 4XL/5XL). The finished bust circumference is from 120 to 207.5 cm/47.25 to 81.75″. Nadja knitted this using a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle and a 22 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch gauge measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

I look forward to showing you how Izana looked on my gorgeous model Emmalin Williams at out photoshoot back in June at Galleri Würth.