Gamaldags

DESIGN: Hélène Magnússon

Gamaldags, which means old fashioned in Icelandic, features in its yoke rather traditional motifs as seen in many old sweaters. Straight forward and geometrical, the way those motifs are combined together nevertheless allows modern and playful colour combinations. What is nothing but dated in this sweater however, is the slim fit, the elegant waist shaping, my signature short rows to create the scooped neckline, a few raglan decreases to avoid excess fabric at the underarms and an overall very feminine look.

The Icelandic “lopapeysa” is probably the most prominent representation of Icelandic knitting today. It is however a fairly recent invention probably dating back to the 50’s and that became immensely popular in the 70’s. Traditionally, lopi sweaters have no front or back. They usually don’t have any shaping in the body and they are worn rather loose. The lopi sweaters I designed aim to refine the shape of the lopi sweater and come up with different yokes. I felt however that a more typical yoke was missing in my collection: Gamaldags, which means old fashioned in Icelandic, is filling the gap!

Gamaldags’s yoke is indeed composed of rather traditional motifs as seen in many old sweaters. Straight forward and geometrical, the way those motifs are combined together nevertheless allows modern and playful colour combinations. What is nothing but dated in this sweater however, is the slim fit, the elegant waist shaping, my signature short rows to create the scooped neckline, a few raglan decreases to avoid excess fabric at the underarms and an overall very feminine look.

When I first designed Gamaldags, it was first and foremost a cardigan to which I added general tips to make a sweater (because you asked for it!). However, over the years, it has become a first lopapeysa for many knitters, so I made a completely separate set of instructions for the sweater (English and French versions only)! I hope it will make life easier!
Also Gamaldags is now even more inclusive with sizes going from XS to 5XL!

Sizes: 1,2(3,4,5)6,7,8(9,10,11)12,13,14 corresponding to: XS,S-(S+,M-,M+)L-,L+,1XL-(1XL+,2XL-,2XL+)3XL,4XL,5XL
Sweater or cardigan (steeked) with darted waist. Slim fit: 0-5 cm/ 0-2” ease.

Choose your size: add the ease to your finished measurements and chose the size the closest to the result. For a looser fit, go a size up.
Both grey sweater and white cardigan shown are a size 4, long version shown with zero and 10 cm /4″ ease. Black cardigan is a size 1, short version (5 cm/2″ ease). Green cardigan is a size 3, short version (zero ease).

Finished measurements

A: Bust: 82,86(92,96,100)103,106,112(120,123,127) 137,147,158 cm / 33,34 (36,37.5,39.25)40.5,41.75,44.25(47.25,48,50)54,57.75,62.25”
B: Hips: 87,91(96,100,104)107,111,117(124,128,132)141,151,162 cm / 34.5,36.25(38.5,40,41.5)43,44.25,46.5(49.75,51,52.5)56.5,60.5,65”
C: Waist: 71,75(80.5,82,86)89.5,93,96.5(104.5,108,111.5)121,131,142 cm / 28,29.5(31.75,32.25,34)35.25,36.5,38(41,42.5,44)47.75,51.5,56”
D: Body length to underarm: 39,40(42,44,45)46,47,49(50,51,52)52,52,52 cm / 15.25,15.75(16.5,17.25,17.75)18,18.5,19.25(19.75,20,20.5)20.5,20.5,20.5”
D’: Shorter version: 35,36(38,39.5,40.5)41.5,42.5,44(45,46,47)47,47,47 cm /13.75,14.25(15,15.5,16)16.25,16.75,17.25(17.75,18,18.5)18.5,18.5,18.5”
E: Yoke depth at the back: 18.5,18.5(19,19,19)19,20,20(20,20,20)21,21,21 cm / 7.25,7.25(7.5,7.5,7.5)7.5,8,8(8,8,8)8.25,8.25,8.25”
F: Sleeve length to underarm: 44,45(45,46,47)48,49,50(51,51,52)52,52,52 cm / 17.25,17.75(17.75,18,18.5)19,19.25,19.75(20,20,20.5)20.5,20.5,20.5”
G: Wrist: 18,18(20,20,20)22,22,22(24.5,24.5,24.5) 24.5,24.5,24.5 cm / 7,7(8,8,8)9,9,9(9.75,9.75,9.75) 9.75,9.75,9.75”
H: Upper arm: 27.75,30(32,34.5,36.5)40,41,42(43.25,44.5,46.5)49,51,53.5 cm / 11,11.75(12.75,13.5,14.5)15.75,16.25,16.5(17,17.5,18.25)19.25,20,21”

Gauge: 10 cm/4” = 18 sts and 24 rows on needle 4.5 mm/ US 7

Wool: Léttlopi from Ístex, 100% new wool, 50g/skein = 100 m/114 yds
MC: 7,7(8,8,9)9,10,10(11,12,12)13,14,15 skeins
CCs: 1 skein each

Color combinations shown:

• White and brown cardigan: MC #0051, CC1 #0053, CC2 #1419
• Black & grey cardigan: MC #0059, CC1 #0056, CC2 #0058
• Grey sweater: MC #0054, CCs #1406, #1404 and special dyes bright pink, bright yellow and bright red.
• Blue/brown yoke: MC : Einrum L+4 (lopi + thai silk) #5444, 50g/skein = 100 m/114 ydsCC’s #1404, #0085, #0051, #0867
• Green cardigan: MC special dye bright green, CCs #1408, #1403, #0051

Other material: for the cardigan, 10 or 11 buttons, in option ribbon twice the length of front opening.

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 and 4.5 mm/US 7 circular needles. Magic loop is used for smaller diameters but you can use DPN’s.

Notions: darning needle, markers, 4 stitch holders

Techniques: The sweater is worked in the round. Body and sleeves are worked in the round then combined at the underarms and the yoke is knitted in the round in stranded knitting. The cardigan is steeked (cut open). Techniques uses: knitting in the round, stranded knitting (2 colors) duplicate st, increases, decreases, kitchener st, steek.

Pattern: once you’ve made your payment, you will receive an email with a link to download the pattern PDF. You will also always find your PDF in your Icelandic Knitter account: log in and go under Downloads. We don’t send patterns by snailmail.

Errata: no mistake was found in this pattern.
EDIT 11 mars 2020: no mistake was found but the pattern was updated with separate instructions for sweater and cardigan and even more inclusive sizes (4XL and 5XL were added). You will find the updated version (ending with ENG4) in your Icelandic Knitter account: log in and go under Downloads.