Saor Alba Design

Saor Alba Jumper To fit a size 36-38in chest (actual size 40-42in), Sleeve lenth 21in.
To make a size larger use 4mm and 4.5mm needles.

The slogan on this jumper means 'free Scotland' in Gaidhlig. (I saw it spray painted on a wall of the Royal Northern Infirmary, Inverness.) The symbols are from the Pictish standing stones.

Materials 900g aran yarn colour A (ie black) 100g aran yarn colour B (ie white) 1 set each 3mm and 3.75mm circular needles (or sets of double pointed knitting needles). Pair of 3.75mm (No. 9) knitting needles
. Body (back and front knitted as one piece) Using 3mm circular needles and yarn A (black) cast on 192sts. Work in rounds for 6cm in k1 p1 rib. Change to 3.75mm circular needles and increase 1 st every 17 sts = 204 sts. Commence dot pattern: Rounds 1-6 K to end in A Round 7 *K5A,1B; rep from * to end. Rounds 8-13 K to end in A Round 14 *K2A,1B,3A; rep from * to end These 14 rounds from the dot pattern, continue for 4 more rounds. Next round [K up the loop between the last st and next st to make 1, k1, make 1, K101] twice = 208sts. Continue in dot pattern increasing 1 st each side of same st as before on 2 following 8th rounds = 216sts. Keep dots as even as possible, ending with a dot row. K 1st block of pattern A from body chart, and K5 rounds more in yarn A. K pattern 2 from body chart. Divide for sleeves. Change to a pair of size 3.75 (number 9) straight needles, and knit up 108 from beginning of round. Turn and keep remaining stitches on a spare needle. Knit pattern 3 from the body chart. Shape shoulders Round 71: K2 rows st.st. in A (main colour black)=(108sts). Neck K45, turn and leave remaining sts on a spare needle, continue on 45sts. Cast off 7 sts at beginning of next row (38sts), 3 sts at beginning of following alternate row (35sts) and 3sts at beginning of next row. Start dot pattern in stocking stitch, decreasing 2 sts at beginning of next 2 alternate rows (31sts). Work 6 rows of st.st. in dot pattern. Cast off. Return to remaining stitches with right side of work facing. Rejoin yarn. Cast off 18sts, pattern to end, work 1 row. Cast off 7 sts at neck edge of next row. Then 3 sts at beginning of following alternate row (start dot pattern) and decrease 2 sts at beginning of next 2 alternate rows (31sts). Work 6 rows st.st in dot pattern, cast off. Back Rejoin yarn A to sts on spare needle with right side of work facing. K 2 rows in A. Rejoin yarn B and knit pattern 3 from body chart. Neck K8 rows st.st. in dot pattern. K45sts, turn, and leave remaining sts. on spare needle. Continue on these 45sts. Cast off 8 sts at beginning of next row (37sts) and 6sts at beginning of following alternate row (31sts) work 4 rows straight. Cast off. Return to stitches on spare needle, with right side facing rejoin yarn A and cast off 18sts, pattern to end then work 1 row. Cast off 8 sts at beginning of next row (37sts), and 6sts at beginning of following alternate row (31sts). Work 3 rows straight. Cast off. Sleeves (Knit 2) Using 3mm circular needles (or short double ended needles) cast on 54 sts. Work 6cm in K1,p1 rib in rounds for welt. Change to 3.75mm needles and work 14 rounds in dot pattern. Next make 1, K1, make 1, pattern to end (56sts) At the same time increase 1 stitch at each side of same stitch on every following 5th round until there are 92sts. Work straight until end of pattern 3 from Sleeve chart. Work 4 rows in A. Cast off. Make up Join shoulder seams and sew sleeves to body. Collar With right side facing and 3mm circular needle, pick up 102 sts around the neck edge. Work 4cm in K1,p1 rib. Cast off in loose rib. Sew cast off edge of collar to neck edge.