by Lars Rains

Antipodal is a pullover which can be worn two ways. With the right side facing, it looks like a traditional Icelandic sweater. However, when worn inside out, it reveals more of its design elements. The floats of the stranded colorwork suggest the magical lights created by the magnetic fields found over both of our planet’s poles.

Wear it one way and then wear it another way; this reversible sweater will be a comfortable addition to your winter wardrobe.

SIZE
A[B, C, D, E/F, G, H, I//J, K, L, M, N]
shown in Size I with 16.5" of positive ease

Note: On women, this pullover is intended to have an oversized fit with approximately 10-16" of positive ease at the bust. For a closer fit, choose a size approximately 2-4" larger than your actual bust measurement. Refer to schematic for finished measurements.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust: 33[36, 40.5, 43, 45/46.5, 48, 50, 52.5//54.5, 57, 59, 62.5, 66] inches
Length: 26[26.75, 27.25, 27.5, 27.75/27.75, 27.75, 28.25, 28.75//28.75, 28.75, 29.75, 30, 30.75] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Ístex Léttlopi [100% Icelandic wool; 109 yd/100m per 1.75 oz/50g skein]
[MC] 1403: Lapis Blue Heather; 6[6, 7, 7, 7/8, 8, 8, 8//9, 9, 9, 10, 10] skeins
[CC1] 1406: Spring Green Heather; 1 skein
[CC2] 1404: Glacier Blue Heather; 1 skein
[CC3] 9423: Lagoon Heather; 1 skein
[CC4] 1413: Lilac Heather; 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below — every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 24- to 60-inch circular needle, US #6/4mm (for body; use length preferred for chosen finished bust circumference)
1 24- to 60-inch circular needle, US #8/5mm (for body; use length preferred for chosen finished bust circumference)
1 longer circular needle, US #8/5mm (for yoke)
1 16- to 24-inch circular needle, US #8/5mm (for yoke, optional)
2 sets of needles for working small circumference in the round (DPNs, 1 long circular or 2 short), one set each of US #8/5mm and US #6/4mm

Notions
1 stitch marker
4 stitch holders or waste yarn (to hold stitches at each underarm)
1 long and 2 short circular stitch holders or waste yarn (to hold live stitches for body and sleeves)
yarn needle
blocking pins (optional)

GAUGE
16 sts/22 rnds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using larger needles, after blocking

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

This garment is worked seamlessly in the round from the bottom up. The body is worked from the hem to the underarms in stockinette stitch without shaping. Work the body with a needle length closest to the finished bust measurement. The sleeves are worked similarly from the cuff to the underarm and are shaped with paired, symmetrical increases. Use your preferred method of small-circumference knitting to work the sleeves. The stitches for the body and both sleeves are joined together on one set of circular needles to work the yoke. Use the longest needles when joining the body and the sleeves together at the beginning of the yoke. Switch to shorter lengths as needed while working the yoke. The underarm stitches are placed on stitch holders or waste yarn and are grafted together during the finishing process.

1x1 Ribbing is always worked using the smaller needles.

Chart is worked in St st unless otherwise indicated.

K1, P1 Rib (multiple of 2 sts)
Rnd 1: *K1, p1; rep from * around.
Rep Rnd 1 for patt.

Tutorials for the Channel Island Cast-on can be found here in photos , a Continental style video tutorial, and an English style video tutorial.
Start with a long tail approx. six times the total finished bust circumference for your size. Alternatively, use your preferred flexible cast on.

Instructions for Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off can be found here.

Instructions for Kitchener Stitch can be found here.

DIRECTIONS

Work in K1, P1 Rib for 12 rnds.

Knit 1 rnd.

Switch to larger circular needle and work in St st until body measures 13.5[14, 14, 14.25, 14.5/14.5, 14.5, 14.75, 15//15, 15, 15.5, 15.5, 16] inches from cast on, or desired length to underarm.

Next rnd: Knit to last 6[7, 8, 8, 9/9, 10, 10, 11//11, 12, 12, 13, 14] sts. Place next 12[14, 16, 16, 18/18, 20, 20, 22//22, 24, 24, 26, 28] sts on stitch holder or waste yarn, removing marker. Place rem 120[130, 146, 156, 162/168, 172, 180, 188//196, 204, 212, 224, 236] sts on separate holder and set aside.

SLEEVES (Make 2)
With smaller needles preferred for working a small circumference in the round, MC, and using Channel Island cast on, CO 44[44, 44, 44, 46/46, 46, 46, 48//48, 48, 48, 50, 50] sts. Join to work in the rnd and pm for beg of rnd, being careful not to twist sts.

Work in K1, P1 Rib for 12 rnds. Knit 1 rnd.

Switch to larger needles.
Knit 5 rnds.

Work even in St st until sleeve measures 17.25[17.5, 17.75, 18, 18/18.25, 18.25, 18.5, 18.5// 18.75, 18.75, 19, 19.25, 19.5] inches from cast on or desired length to underarm.

Next rnd: Knit to last 6[7, 8, 8, 9/9, 10, 10, 11/11, 12, 12, 13, 14] sts. Break yarn. Place next 12[14, 16, 16, 18/18, 20, 20, 22//22, 24, 24, 26, 28] sts on holder, removing marker. Place rem 40[40, 42, 46, 46/48, 48, 52, 52//56, 56, 60, 60, 60] sts on separate holder and set aside.

Yoke:
Join body and sleeves:
With larger circular needle and RS facing, join MC and knit across 40[40, 42, 46, 46/48, 48, 52, 52//56, 56, 60, 60, 60] held sts of first sleeve, knit across first 54[58, 65, 70, 72/75, 76, 80, 83//87, 90, 94, 99, 104] sts of body for front, place next 12[14, 16, 16, 18/18, 20, 20, 22//22, 24, 24, 26, 28] sts of body on holder, knit 40[40, 42, 46, 46/48, 48, 52, 52//56, 56, 60, 60, 60] sts of second sleeve, knit rem 54[58, 65, 70, 72/75, 76, 80, 83//87, 90, 94, 99, 104] sts of body for back. Pm for beg of rnd. 188[196, 214, 232, 236/246, 248, 264, 270//286, 292, 308, 318, 328] sts.

All Sizes EXCEPT Sizes G and N:
Next rnd: *K45[47, 33, 27, 57/39, -, 31, 43//45, 71, 75, 51, -], k2tog; rep from * 3[3, 5, 7, 3/5, -, 7, 5//5, 3, 3, 5, -] times more, knit to end.

Work even in St st for 1[1, 2, 5, 2/3, 4, 4, 6//6, 6, 8, 10, 12] rnd(s).

Begin Chart:
Joining colors as necessary, work through 45[47, 48, 45, 48/47, 48, 48, 48//48, 48, 48, 48, 48] rnds of chart, working chart repeat 23[24, 26, 28, 29/30, 31, 32, 33//35, 36, 38, 39, 41] times across each round. Change to shorter needle(s) as necessary. 69[72, 78, 84, 87/90, 93, 96, 99//105, 108, 114, 117, 123] sts once chart has been completed.

Cut all yarn except MC.

Next rnd: *K11[10, 11, 6, 5/5, 6, 6, 5//4, 4, 3, 4, 3], k2tog; rep from * 4[5, 5, 9, 10/11, 10, 11, 12//16, 17, 19, 18, 22] times more, knit to end. 64[66, 72, 74, 76/78, 82, 84, 86//88, 90, 94, 98, 100] sts.

Neck:
Switch to smaller needles and knit 1 rnd.
Work in K1, P1 Rib for 24 rnds.
BO all sts loosely using Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy bind-off method.

FINISHING
Graft underarm sts together using Kitchener Stitch method. Weave in all loose ends with tapestry needle on the WS of the garment. Block to finished measurements.

Lars Rains was born and raised in Manitoba, but now lives on Long Island with his husband, Monte, and their two dogs, Hank and Fiscal Cliff. They spend as much time as possible at their cabin in the Catskills.

Lars is well known for promoting the use of Lopi within the knitting community. His work has been featured in publications for Cascade Yarns, Malabrigo Yarns and Noro Yarns, as well as in Chicago Knits, Knit Edge, Knit Simple and Vogue Knitting.

Lars has just self-published his first book of Icelandic sweater designs, which can be ordered online at modernlopi.com. He is also on Ravelry, although he is more likely to be found procrastinating on Facebook.

Many thanks to Linda Pratt at Westminster Fibers for the generous yarn support for this project.