Pattern: An Aran for Frederick

Next up in the pattern parade: An Aran for Frederick! 

My first pattern published in a print magazine (Turn of the Glass had been published in Knitty in January 2011) and a perennial favorite, An Aran for Frederick was my first opportunity to explore the way cable patterns and the hybrid yoke construction of Elizabeth Zimmermann could come together to embody a character.

An Aran for Frederick $7 on Ravelry (no account necessary)

“A well-looking man,” said Sir Walter, “a very well-looking man.”
“A very fine young man indeed!” said Lady Dalrymple. “More air than one often sees in Bath. Irish, I dare say.”
“No. I just know his name. A bowing acquaintance. Wentworth—Captain Wentworth of the navy.” 

—Jane Austen, Persuasion

Though Captain Frederick Wentworth may not be Irish, this handsome captain, who stole Anne Elliot’s heart before the beginning of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, is certainly worthy of his own Aran sweater. This cabled pullover is worked in the round, with a “hybrid” yoke to highlight the Celtic Flourish cable running up the center back and front, flanked by OXO and Superimposed Double Wave cables, and Ensign’s Braids (Ensigns were junior officers in the infantry and navy at the time, which Frederick would have been when he first met Anne) running up the sleeves and along the shoulder saddles. This yoke style makes a flattering pullover for any man (or woman). To modernize, body and sleeves begin the cable patterns immediately, and it is finished with a simple rolled neck so as not to distract from this cable tour de force.

What you'll love about knitting An Aran for Frederick

• Gorgeous cable patterns keep your attention
• Worked in the round from the bottom up means you can always see where you are in your cable patterns
• Exciting-to-knit hybrid yoke: all those beautiful cable patterns + clever decreases that shape the sweater to the wearer's shoulders = super-fun knitting

What you'll love about wearing An Aran for Frederick

• Cables that tell Captain Wentworth's story
• Modern styling that dives right into the cables and finishes with a simple rollneck
• Hybrid yoke that gives the wearer strong shoulders

Size/Finished Measurements

Unisex XS (S, M, L, XL) (shown in size S with 5½" ease)

Chest circumference: 37¼ (43½, 49, 53¼, 59½)"

Materials

• Brooklyn Tweed Shelter (100% wool; 140 yd (128 m)/50 g): #16 nest, 8 (10, 12, 14, 15) skeins.
• Size 6 (4 mm): 16" and 29" circular (cir) and set of doublepointed (dpn). 
• Markers (m)
• Cable needle (cn) (optional—try cabling without a cable needle; it's brilliant!)
• Removable markers
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

15 stitches x 27 rows = 4" in Seed Stitch

Skills needed

• Casting on
• Binding off
• Knitting
• Purling
• Increasing
• Decreasing
• Working in the round
• Working stitches out of order (cabling)
• Working from charted instructions

Thanks!
Originally published in Jane Austen Knits, 2011.
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your very own An Aran for Frederick has its place in this professionally formatted (by me!) pattern. Cables are provided in chart form only.

Lovely knitters who purchased this pattern when it was originally released should have received a message from Ravelry that the updated version is now in their libraries. Don't miss the special customer coupon code!

And don't forget that An Aran for Frederick is part of my Jane Austen Knits bundle. Use code jakbundle to purchase An Aran for Anne, An Aran for Frederick, and Sotherton for $15 ($21 value). Previous purchases from my Ravelry store will be credited towards the bundle price at checkout.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo,