My Icelandic Sweater

Design: Hélène Magnússon

My Icelandic Sweater first appeared in my book “Icelandic Color Knitting: using Rose Patterns” about Old shoe inserts worn in soft shoes made of fish and sheep skin in the past centuries in Iceland. The inserts were knitted using Icelandic intarsia in garter stitch, a tradition unique to Iceland. This Icelandic sweater* however is one of the rare patterns in the book where I didn’t use Icelandic intarsia but stranded knitting with a very colorful floral motif as seen in the inserts.

The inserts that inspired the sweater are preserved at the Skógar Museum in South Iceland and represent a flowerpot motif with 8 colors, 6 being used simultaneously in the same row. Not a good idea in stranded knitting, as it would result in an absurdly thick and rigid fabric! So, instead, I knitted stranded knitting with three colors and embroidered more colors afterwards with Swiss darning (duplicate st).

This updated version offers more sizes than in the original pattern, ranging from XS to 3X, and a more modern fit with an optional waist shaping for women. I also propose a new variation of the motif (option B) with no embroidery, two less colors, and with the insertion of little motifs in between the big motifs, thus avoiding very long floats. It makes it easier to work and less likely to lack elasticity around the shoulders as it is often when working with three colors.

In January 2026, I also added Charts in black and white for a graphic bicolore design: there is only one color in the motif and only 2 colors by row to work with in stranded knitting,

Instructions are both for a sweater or a cardigan with different finishing options (rib neckline or not, zipper, buttonholes).

Sizes: XS(S,M,L) XL,2XL,3XL

Sweater or cardigan (steeked) with optional darted waist for women. A size M woman would be a size S man. Recommended ease: 0-5 cm/ 0-2”.

Finished measurements
Chest: 71(80,89,98)114,123,132 cm/ 28.5(32,35.5,39)45.5,49,53”
Hips: 74(83,92,101)117,126,135 cm/ 29.5(33,37,40.5)47,50.5,54”
Waist: 61(71,80,89)104,114,123 cm/ 24.5(28.5,32,35.5)41.5,45.5,49”
Body length: 36(38,40,43)46,49,52 cm/ 14.5(15,16,17)18.5,19.5,21”
Sleeve length: 46(47,48,49)50,51,52 cm/ 18.5(19,19.25,19.5)20,20.5,21”
Wrist: 23(23,25,25)26,26,28 cm / 9(9,10,10)10.5,10.5,11”
Upper arm: 29(31,32,34)35,37,38 cm/ 11.5(12.5,13,13.5)14,15,15.25”

Gauge: 10 cm/4” = 13 sts and 18 rows on needle 6 mm/US 10

Wool: Álafoss lopi from Ístex, 100% new wool, 100g/skein = 100 m/114 yds
MC: #0051 (white sweater and bicolore sweater) or #0052 (dark cardigan): 5(6,6,7)7,8,8 skeins

White sweater
MC: #0051, 5(6,6,7)7,8,8 skeins
CC:

• Motif B: #0052 #1233, #1238, #9965, #9966, 1 skein each
• Motif A: same colors as motif B plus #9964, 1 skein each
• One color motif: 1(1,1,2)2,2,3 skeins

Dark cardigan
MC: #0052, 5(6,6,7)7,8,8 skeins
CC:

• Motif B: #9973, #1233, #0047, #9965, #9966, 1 skein each
• Motif A: same colors as motif B plus #9964 and #1238, 1 skein each
• One color motif: 1(1,1,2)2,2,3 skeins

For a softer and much lighter sweater, you can also use 1 single strand of plötulopi and 1 strand of Love Story. Click here for details and equivalence.

Material: for the cardigan, zipper or buttons

Needles: circular needle 6 mm/US 10 (and 4,5 mm/US 7 for the rib collar option). Magic loop is used for smaller diameters but of course you can use DPN’s.

Crochet hook 5 mm/ US H/8 (cardigan border)

Notions: darning needle, markers, 4 stitch holders, optional zipper or buttons

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). Knitting in the round, stranded knitting (2 or 3 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. We don’t send patterns by snail mail.

Errata: no mistake was found in this pattern