In Winter, I’m all about quick knits. Lars Birge fits into that category. Something you can cast on in January and wear a few weeks later. Lars Birge is a traditional Nordic Kofte. If you follow my work, you might know that my designs are inspired by my family tree. If you have knit Mette or Mattie, you’ll be happy to learn that Lars Birge was her grandfather. He was born in Hardanger, Norway.
I love this modern take on a traditional Nordic sweater. It’s knit bottom up for the body, and top down for the sleeves. There is no steek. The colorwork on the body is worked back and forth, so you do have to knit and purl in colorwork for the body. The top of the sweater is put together with a 3-needle bind off, and the stitches for the sleeves are picked up and knit top down. There is minimal finishing to be done. You pretty much can knit this sweater, sew on a Nordic clasp, and wear it right away.
I used lovely Tuku DK in Aave which is grey wool dyed blue for the main color and Daylights Chirp with its hint of blue for the the contrasting color. I’m crazy about this color, but I think it would also be lovely in a myriad of color combinations. I love this construction. It comes together piece by piece. You start with the body, and then add the sleeves and suddenly you have a sweater. I love the fit! it’s super comfy, warm, and cozy. And for an added bonus—it’s reasonably quick knit.
I hope you love it!
Sizes
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
XS ( S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL)
Finished Measurements
(Each includes a 3-5 inch positive ease)
Chest: 34 ¼ (37 ¾, 40 ½, 45, 48 ½. 52, 58 ¼)” /87 (96, 103, 114.5, 123, 132, 148) cm
Sleeve Length: 18 (18, 19, 19 20, 23, 23) inches 46 (46, 48.5, 48.5, 51, 58.5, 58,5) cm
Body Length to Underarm: 15 ½ (16, 16, 16 ½, 17 ½, 18 ½, 18 ½) inches 39 (41, 41, 42, 44.5, 47, 47) cm
Sleeve Depth: 7 ½ (8, 8 ½, 9, 9 ½, 10, 10 ½) inches 19 (20.5, 21.5, 22.75, 24, 25.5, 26.75)
Total Body Length: 23 (24, 24 ½, 25 ½ ,27, 28 ½ ,29) inches 58.4 (61, 62.25, 64.75, 68.6, 72.4, 73.65) cm
Yarn
DK | Tukuwool 100 % Finnish Wool | 273 yards (250 meters) approx. 100 g- skein
DK | Harrisville Daylights | 100% American Cormo and Wool | 250 yards (236) meters 100 -skein
Main color (MC): Color: Tukuwool Aava 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) skeins
Contrasting color (CC1): Daylights Chirp 1 skein
Other Yarn suggestions
Biches et Bûches Le Gros Lambswool, Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, Harrisville Highland, Harrisville Nightshades, Harrisville WaterShed
Needles
One 32 (32, 32, 40, 40, 40, 40)-inch 80 (80, 80, 100 100, 100, 100, 100)-cm circular needle for the body and a 16-inch (40 cm) circular needle for the sleeves in size needed to obtain gauge in colorwork and single color.
Suggested Needle Size: US 7 (4.5mm)
One 32 (32, 32, 40, 40, 40, 40)-inch 80 (80, 80, 100 100, 100, 100, 100)-cm circular needle two sizes smaller than gauge-size needle for ribbing on the body and a pair of double-pointed needles (DPNs) or FlexiFlips to use for the 1x1 ribbing for the sleeves.
Suggested Needles Size: US 6 (4 mm)
Notions
Stitch markers, measuring tape, scissors, darning needle, sewing needle, fingering-weight yarn for sewing, 1 pair of Nordic clasps
Gauge and Swatch
18 stitches and 23 rounds = 4 inches (10cm)
Please swatch in the round and flat to determine needle size
Skills Used
Long-tail cast on
Knit
Purl
Knitting in the round
Knitting flat
Colorwork knitting
Colorwork purling
Binding off
Chart reading for knitting (right to left)
Chart reading for purling (left to right)
A bit of float catching on the xoxo motif
Three-needle bind off
Picking up and knitting stitches
ssk
k2tog
k1p1 rib
Happy knitting!
