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Maja Light is a top-down DK version of my popular Maja lopi cardigan, a free pattern I designed for the Swedish company Järbo Garn back in 202, and named after their head designer Maja Karlsson.
Just like the original Maja, the Maja light cardigan is steeked. The pattern also has instructions for a sweater with short sleeves.
Both come in 10 sizes, from XXS to 5XL.

I hope you will enjoy this lighter version that celebrates a new yarn in the Ístex range: Fjallalopi. If you’d like, you can also use my softer Icelandic lambswool yarn Ný Katla, which is DK as well, or even my Gilitrutt lace yarn, held double. And of course, you can use any DK yarn you like!

Fun fact: despite its appellation, Fjallalopi is not unspun and thus sweaters knitted with Fjallalopi do not meet the standards for being sold as traditional Icelandic lopi sweaters in the shops!

Sizes: XXS(XS,S,M)L,XL,2XL(3XL,4XL,5XL)
Recommanded fit: 5-10 cm / 2-4” of ease at bust. Add the desired ease to your bust measurements* and choose the size the closest to it. For a looser fit, choose a larger size. Compare the other finished measurements to your own.
If you are very busty, you may want to measure your upper bust and add darts to the sweater.

The blue cardigan with long sleeves is a size XS worn with 4 cm / 1½” ease at bust, the black sweater with short sleeves is a size M with 14 cm / 5.5” ease at bust.

Finished measurements
Bust circumference: 78(88,94,104)107,119,125(138,146,153) cm / 30¾(34¾,37,41)42¼,46¾,49¼(54¼,57½,60¼)“ (+ 4 cm/ 1½” button band for the cardigan):
Neckline circumference (+ 4 cm/ 1½“ button band for the cardigan): 52(54,56,58)60,62,64(66,68,70) cm / 20½(21¼,22,22¾)23½,24½,25¼(26,26¾,27½)”
Upper arm circumference: 36(37,38,39)42,46,51(54,58,61) cm / 14¼(14½,15,15¼)16½,18,20(21¼,22¾,24)“
Body length to underarm: 28(29,30,31)32,33,34(35,36,37) cm / 11(11½,11¾,12¼)12½,13,13½(13¾,14¼,14½)”
Long sleeve length: 44(45,46,46)47,48,49(50,51,52) cm / 17¼(17¾,18,18)18½,19,19¼(19¾,20,20½)”
Yoke depth at front (plus 3 cm / 1” at back): 20.5(21,21,22)22.5,23,24.5(24.5,25,25.5) cm / 8(8¼,8¼,8¾)8¾,9,9¾(9¾,9¾,10)”

Gauge: 10 cm / 4” = 20 sts and 28 rows in Stocking st on 3.75 mm / US 5

Wool
Any DK weight yarn suitable for stranded knitting.

Cardigan 4 colors with long sleeves
shown in Fjallalopi from Ístex, 100% wool, 1 ply, DK weight, 50 g ball = approx. 150 m / 164 yds
• MC: shade #3052 (mountain blue), 3(3,4,4)4,4,5(5,6,6) skeins
• CC1: shade #3042 (ginger), 2(3,3,3)3,3,4(4,4,5) skeins
• CC2: shade #3001 (light moorit), 3(3,4,4(4,4,5(5,6,6) skeins
And for CC3: Gilitrutt Tvíband (used double) from Hélène Magnússon, 100% new wool, pure Icelandic lambswool, plied lace weight, 2 ply, 25 g per skein = 112 m/ 122 yds: 2(2,2,2)2,2,3(3,3,3) skeins

Yardage used
• MC: 381(418,452,491)530,596,660(726,780,828)m / 417(457,494,536)579,651,722(794,852,905)yds
• CC1: 286(313,339,368)397,447,495(545,585,621)m / 312(342,370,402)434,489,541(596,639,679)yds
• CC2: 381(418,452,491)530,596,660(726,780,828)m / 417(457,494,536)579,651,722(794,852,905)yds
• CC3: 71(78,84,92)99,111,123(136,146,155) m
• 77(85,92,100)108,121,134(148,159,168)yds

Sweater 2 colors with short sleeves in Fjallalopi:
• MC: shade #3059 (black), 4(4,5,5)6,7,7(8,9,9) skeins (count 1 more skein for long sleeves)
• CC: shade #3042 (ginger), 2(2,2,2)3,3,3(4,4,4) skeins

Yardage used (estimation for long sleeves)
• MC:672(736,796,865)934,1050,1163(1280,1374,1460) m / 734(805,870,945)1021,1148,1272
(1400,1502,1596) yds
• CC: 241(264,286,310)335,377,417(459,485,524) m / 263(289,312,339)366,412,456(502,530,573) yds

Needles: 3 and 3.75 mm / US 2.5 and 5 circular needles, 60 or 80 cm / 24 or 32” long. Magic loop is used for smaller diameters, but you can also use double-pointed needles.

Notions: tapestry needle, markers, stitch holders. Sewing machine for the steek or thread and sewing needle.

Other material:
For the cardigan: 8 or 9 buttons, ribbon twice the length of the front opening.