Brynja

Brynja lopi sweater has a slightly darted waist and bust darts that give it a very feminine and flattering shape. It is not so common for traditional lopi sweaters, that are usually not that much shaped. It has exquisite details like picot edging and colored bands inside the lining. The yoke sits higher on the back and shoulders thanks to clever short rows and is decorated with a delicate four petal rose, a common pattern in Iceland that can be found in an old Icelandic sjónabók. It is knit entirely in the round using Létt-lopi, unspun Icelandic wool but slightly twisted, that doesn’t break so easily. Brynja comes in two versions: a short one and a long one that covers the hips

The four petal rose that decorates the yoke is a common pattern in Iceland that can be found in an Icelandic sjónabók. A “sjónabók” is a collection of charted patterns found in Icelandic art and handcrafts. Patterns from several such manuscrifts from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries have been gathered in a recent book* for designers to use. It is a rather large motif for a lopi sweater, which made it challenging to put the sweater into sizes. Usually lopi sweaters have only a 6 to 8 stitches repeat.

In Icelandic, Brynja means armor, cuirass or corselet. It suits well this fitted lopi sweater.”

*Ornaments and Patterns found in Iceland, The Icelandic Handcraft Association, National Museum of Iceland, The Iceland Academy of the Arts, Reykjavík 2009

Design: Hélène Magnússon

Sizes: XS(S,M,L,XL,2X,3X) to fit bust: 83(87,95,100,108,118,127)cm / 33(34,37,39,42,46,50)” (finished measurements).
Blue model shown in size M, short version.

Yarn: Léttlopi from Ístex, 100% pure Icelandic wool, 50g/skein, 50g = ca.100m/109 yds; 6(7,7,8,8,9,9) skeins in main color and 1 skein in contrasting color.

Turquoise and red: 1404 and 1409
Black and white: 0059 and 0051
Grey and yellow: 0058 and 1411

Gauge: 10 x10 cm / 4×4” = 16 sts x 21 rows in stocking Stitch on needle 5mm/US 8.

Needles and notions: circular needles 4.5mm/US 7 and 5 mm/US 8, 80cm/32” long, using magic loop for smaller diameters, stitch markers, darning needle, stitch holders, tape measure, sewing machine, edging band twice the length of the front edge, 7(7,7,7,8,8,8) snap buttons Ø 1,5 cm / 0,4 inch and/or 7(7,7,7,8,8,8) buttons, medium size.

Techniques: knitted in the round, stranded knitting, steek (optional).

Pattern: once you’ve your payment, you will receive an email with a link to download the pattern PDF. We don’t send patterns by snail mail.

Errata: a mistake was found in this pattern, please check the errata. Patterns purchased after 2011 are correct.
Current PDFs uploaded: BrynjaENG6, BrynjaFR8, BrynjaISL1