I finished a top and just loved knitting it. It’s not one of my usual styles, but I do love it and keep my eyes open for similar models. The yarn comes from Hanna the Gestrike sheep, a gold medalist at the Swedish fleece championships of 2024.
I wrote about the fleece and the yarn a couple of weeks ago. The massive fleece (for a Swedish heritage breed) of 2 kilos had different staple types and I divided it into three categories and spun them into the same yarn thickness. That way I can use all three types in the same project and adapt the placing of the yarn. I’ haven’t finished, though, since my mind really needed to knit the top I had decided on. This week I finished it.
Hanna the Gestrike yarn
The yarn ended up very shiny and fits perfectly with the pattern. The uneven spots give extra sparkle to the structure and the pattern is ideal for handspun yarn due to its versatility.
It was also very comfortable to knit with. And that’s quite important, isn’t it? My Hanna yarn flows comfortably through the fingers and doesn’t split. And I have lots of yarn left and lots of wool left to spin.
A Ranunculus top
The pattern, the Ranunculus by Midori Hirose, is and oversized crop top with a lacey yoke pattern. It is very intelligently made, with lots of tutorials and options. The sizes are based on the chest circumference of the garment, and by choosing your preferred amount of ease you pick the size that gives that ease on your body. I chose the second size, and it didn’t look very oversized, but when I blocked to the measurements, magic happened.
Other options offered in the pattern are neckline width and cuff short rows. I chose the smaller neckline and included the short rows for the cuffs, giving them a better fit. The top is knit top-down and is finished at the bottom with a wide 1×1 twist ribbing. The sleeves are bound off with an I-cord.
More ideas
I’m playing with the idea of dyeing the top. Most of my knits are in natural wool colours, but I do have an indigo fermentation bucket underneath my home office desk and I may play with that. I’ll keep you posted.
I’m actually thinking about making a second Ranunculus, in the wider neckline and more positive ease, knit in my handspun linen yarn. Perfect for hot summer days when I want to stay cool and out of the sun. I have actually never knit a pattern twice (apart from perhaps a pair of socks or two), but this sweater is well worth a second knit.
Happy spinning!
P.S. My book Listen to the Wool is available for pre-order now! Read more about it (and see a few of the beautiful photos) here.
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