ZOE_LOOP_SWEATER is my contribution to the Isager Archives 2 collection, which is inspired by Marianne Isager’s iconic designs from the 80s and 90s. The sweater draws from two of her classic models: Kelim, where the graphic zigzag pattern in knit and purl stitches for the basis, and Drops, whose characteristic pintucks (form raised distinctive lines) give the design a unique expression.

At the beginning of the design process, I exclusively took the Kelim model as my starting point and worked with the texture in combination with colored stripes – in line with the original. After lots of experimenting with color combinations and swatches, it became clear to me that I wanted the graphic zigzag pattern to stand out more, and to calm down the rest of the style. This led me to integrate the characteristic pintucks from Drops instead of the colored stripes, which made the design more subtle and balanced, and allowed the texture to really come into its own.
The silhouette is created with reference to the 90s sweatshirt: relaxed and slightly boxy with a low shoulder seam, slightly cropped at the front and softly curved at the back. The sleeves narrow towards the wrist and are finished with a ribbed hem. The result is a design that combines nostalgia with contemporary simplicity.

The sweater is worked from top to bottom. First stitches are cast on for the back piece, which is worked back and forth with short rows to shape the upper back. Then stitches are picked up along the shoulder edges, and the shoulders are worked individually. The two shoulders are joined for the front piece by casting on stitches mid-front. The front and back pieces are joined, and the body is then worked in the round and finished with a ribbing edge and Italian bind off. Neck stitches are picked up along the neck opening and the neckband is worked in the round in ribbing. The neckband is finished with a contrast color and Italian bind off. Sleeve stitches are picked up around the armhole, and sleeves are worked in the round individually and are finished with a ribbing edge and Italian bind off. Pintucks are worked in a contrast color, which are integrated at different places throughout the piece. The textured pattern is worked in knit and purl stitches according to the chart across the entire sweater.

Sizes_
1 (2) 3 (4)

Measurements_
Circumference_ 119 (127) 140 (153) cm.
Length_ 57 (57) 57 (59) cm, measured from under the pintuck on the back piece.

The sweater has a positive ease of 35-45 cm and gradually less ease for the bigger sizes.

The light grey sweater shown is size 1 with positive ease of 33 cm.
The sweaters shown in Camel and Navy are size 2 with a positive ease of 41 cm.

Materials_
Color A_
1 strand Tvinni - 50 g / 255 m or 1 strand Alpaca 2 - 50 g / 250 m from Isager 200 (250) 250 (300) g.

Together with
1 strand Soft Fine – 25 g / 150 m from Isager 175 (200) 200 (225) g.

Color B_
1 strand Boucle – 50 g / 175 m from Isager 25 (25) 25 (25) g.

Or_

Color A_
1 strand Isager Tweed - 50 g / 200 m from Isager 250 (300) 300 (350) g.

Together with
1 strand Silk Mohair – 25 g / 212 m from Isager 125 (150) 150 (175) g.

Color B_
1 strand Boucle – 50 g / 175 m from Isager 25 (25) 25 (25) g.

The light grey sweater is worked in Tvinni col 2s, Soft Fine col 2s and Boucle col E0.

The camel sweater is worked in Tvinni col 7s, Soft Fine col E7s and Boucle col 30.

The navy sweater is worked in Tweed col Navy, Silk Mohair col 100 and Boucle col 30.

Recommended needles and notions
In Tvinni / Alpaca 2 together with Soft Fine:
4 mm circular needles (40 and 80 or 100 cm).
3.5 mm circular needles (40 and 80 or 100 cm),
possibly DPNs in the same size, unless using Magic Loop method.

In Tweed together with Silk Mohair:
4.5 mm circular needles (40 and 80 or 100 cm).
4 mm circular needles (40 and 80 or 100 cm),
possibly DPNs in the same size, unless using Magic Loop method.

Stitch wire
Stitch markers

Gauge_
In Tvinni / Alpaca 2 together with Soft Fine:
19 stitches x 30 rows in the pattern on 4 mm = 10 x 10 cm after washing and blocking.

In Tweed together with Silk Mohair:
19 stitches x 30 rows in the pattern on 4.5 mm = 10 x 10 cm after washing and blocking.

Use the Body_ chart to make the swatch.

If you have questions, comments or need knitting support, you are welcome to write to us on support@otherloops.com