Anushka, of The Crimson Stitchery, and I have been working on this collaboration for many months and I’m so pleased that we’re finally ready to share her lovely design – the Sisymbrium Sweater. Sisymbrium is knit with Killen Sock and is a playful, lightweight sweater featuring open crossed stitches, bobbles, and simple textures. This yoke sweater is knit from the top-downwards, in the round. It includes careful shaping to fit loosely around the body with positive ease, and a cropped length.

Sisymbrium Sweater in Killen Sock Rust and Denim

I’ll pop the sizing and yarn quantity details below for information. The pattern is available directly from Anushka via her website. Sisymbrium is designed with a wide range of sizes and it is a comfortable flattering sweater. I had a lot of fun last week with one of my daughters and her friend taking photos of both samples together. The Denim sample is a Size 2 with a lengthened body and the Rust sample is a Size 3 (both girls are approx 34″ full bust). 

Anushka has made the most of Killen’s properties by designing Sisymbrium at a very loose gauge which results in the loveliest fabric with loads of drape. It is a quick knit and uses relatively little yarn. I’m so delighted to have had the chance to work with Anushka and that she has been able to create such a beautiful sweater in my yarn. I also need to thank my very lovely friend and talented sample knitter Clare Shaw for her superb work in knitting the Denim sample for me.

YARN (Killen Sock)

Approx 910 (1010, 1100, 1360, 1515) (1665, 1865, 2015, 2270)m/1000 (1105, 1215, 1490, 1660) (1825, 2040, 2205, 2485)yd 4-ply/fingering weight yarn.

Black Isle Yarns Killen Sock 4-ply 2020 Clip (80% Blue Faced Leicester, 20% Mohair; 400m/437yd per 100g)
3 (3, 3, 4, 4) (5, 5, 6, 6) hanks in shade Rust or Indigo

GAUGE

21 stitches and 30 rows = 10cm/4” in Stocking Stitch in the round
Use the relevant needle sizes to achieve this gauge.
Block your swatch before measuring, as the fibres will bloom and the yarn may shrink.

EQUIPMENT

  • 4.5mm/US7 knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge
  • 4mm/US6 knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge
  • Circular knitting needles
  • Your preferred needle type for knitting small circumferences in the round
  • Stitch holder, scrap yarn or spare circular knitting needle
  • Cable needle

SIZING 9 sizes available. Choose a size 5-8cm/2-6” larger than your full-chest circumference.
Full-chest circumference: 85.5 (99, 108.5, 118, 129.5) (137, 146.5, 160, 167.5)cm / 33¾ (39, 42¾, 46½, 51) (54, 57¾, 63, 66)”

YARN (Killen Sock)

Approx 910 (1010, 1100, 1360, 1515) (1665, 1865, 2015, 2270)m/1000 (1105, 1215, 1490, 1660) (1825, 2040, 2205, 2485)yd 4-ply/fingering weight yarn.

Black Isle Yarns Killen Sock 4-ply 2020 Clip (80% Blue Faced Leicester, 20% Mohair; 400m/437yd per 100g)
3 (3, 3, 4, 4) (5, 5, 6, 6) hanks in shade Rust or Indigo

GAUGE

21 stitches and 30 rows = 10cm/4” in Stocking Stitch in the round
Use the relevant needle sizes to achieve this gauge.
Block your swatch before measuring, as the fibres will bloom and the yarn may shrink.

EQUIPMENT

  • 4.5mm/US7 knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge
  • 4mm/US6 knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge
  • Circular knitting needles
  • Your preferred needle type for knitting small circumferences in the round
  • Stitch holder, scrap yarn or spare circular knitting needle
  • Cable needle

SIZING 9 sizes available. Choose a size 5-8cm/2-6” larger than your full-chest circumference.
Full-chest circumference: 85.5 (99, 108.5, 118, 129.5) (137, 146.5, 160, 167.5)cm / 33¾ (39, 42¾, 46½, 51) (54, 57¾, 63, 66)”

After several years of spinning my original Killen Sock in 2020 I felt that it was due for a revision. The two main reasons were to increase the twist, which should add to hardiness, and to be able to spin at a lighter weight. After some searching I settled on one of the Yorkshire mills who, after receiving some samples of my Bluefaced Leicester raw wool, were happy that they could spin the yarn well to my specification of 400m/100g. They were able to supply the Mohair element at 20% of the total fibre weight. As I explained in this post, I have tried in the past to source British mohair but haven’t been successful. The 80% BFL comes from one farm, The Arr farm where Muriel and Stuart are specialist pedigree breeders. The Arr is around 1 hours drive south of my base in Fortrose on the Black Isle. The mohair used in the revised Killen comes from South Africa.

I excitedly awaited delivery of the new yarn in summer 2021 – and was delighted with its lustre and drape. The twist was much higher than my previous version and it looked promising as a sock yarn, given that the original had stood well if knit at a tight gauge. I quickly began knitting a pair of vanilla socks, which actually became my first completed pair (which I am slightly ashamed to admit!). Since then I have been wearing them almost continuously to test how they will wear. After 40 days, not all full days (some were too hot!) and quite a lot of walking they are holding up well. From the outside there isn’t too much of a difference, a little shininess under the heel in particular and some roughening and felting of the fabric. I have removed a little pilling over time. Inside they have felted, especially under the ball of the foot. Some fine fibres have worn off but the felting seems to be a positive in terms of strength. I hadn’t actually sewn in the end where I finished the toes, and it has now blended into the felting under the ball of the foot! I knit fairly tightly on 2.25mm – I think ideally I would have used 2mm needles but I didn’t have any with a small circumference cables, which is my preference for this type of project. My gauge was about 40 stitches per 4 inches, which is probably a little higher than is usual for a sock yarn but the revised Killen Sock is dense rather than plump so is quite a fine yarn in diameter compared to other yarns at 400m/100g.

I’ll carry on wearing these socks to see how they continue to hold up. I hope the collage below helps give a good feel for how they have worn. Please excuse the fact that the are not the most perfectly knit socks!

Clockwise from top left 1. Both socks outside 2. top sock inside-bottom sock outside 3. close up of inside 4. top sock inside bottom sock outside

Several lovely women conducted Wool Exploration reviews for me. These are based on the format used by Louise Scollay of WoolWork, and I have Louise’ kind permission to use her spreadsheet. The reviews were conducted over a short space of time and the testers didn’t have the chance to knit a pair of socks and wear them. The link below will take you to the reviews, there are 7 tabs in total which can be scrolled through at the bottom of the page. I hope you find them useful. In addition to my early sock wearing results there seems to be a general consensus that Killen Sock will prove to be a good lace knitting yarn. It holds the pattern well, drapes beautifully and develops a lovely halo on washing and blocking.

WOOL EXPLORATION REVIEWS

Thanks very much to the very kind review group for their time and effort in helping build a picture of the yarn based on their testing and experiences. I hope the reviews will be useful.

Killen Sock dyed with common reed (Phragmites)