Pehmis Sweater
It’s mid March and we are finally starting to see some hints of Spring! The cold spell seems to be broken, we’ve seen a few days of sunshine and everything seems ready for the change of season. This is my longwinded way of inviting you to settle down and grab a cup of coffee (or your favourite beverage!), because I have something very special to share with you today.
I’ve been working on a dream project on my needles for a while now, and seeing it finished and photographed feels like the first rays of sun in the Spring.
Meet the Pehmis Sweater. The name might sound familiar to you, because it’s the Finnish word for soft-serve ice cream, and honestly, that’s exactly what this sweater feels like. It’s light, airy, and has that perfect softness that melts in your arms. Dreamy texture, swirling cables, luxurious yarn you will love years to come!
Let’s talk about the yarn! Because the yarn is the true secret behind this design. I designed this sweater in collaboration with Ilo Yarn store, in their own yarn line Aara. It was made especially for the Aara’s and Ullrike by Anki’s knit camp coming up this weekend! But it’s not only for the participants, you can enjoy this new design as well!
To get that "cloud-like" fabric, I chose a combination that I’ve used before and love so much: Aara Mieli and Aara Hieno. Mieli is a gorgeous merino sock yarn that gives the sweater its structure and makes those cables really stand out. Hieno on the other hand is a silk mohair that adds this incredible, luminous halo.
Holding them together creates a fabric that is surprisingly light but keeps you perfectly warm. Sometimes even too warm! The colorway is a dusty pink called Metsälauha, and in this specific yarn mix, it looks like it’s glowing from the inside out.
When I sat down to design Pehmis, I wanted to create a piece that felt like a modern classic. I’m a firm believer that the best knits are the ones that keep your hands interested but your mind at peace.
That’s why I chose to play with the interplay of two very different textures: the rhythmic, sharp geometry of Broken Rib and the winding flow of Cables. There’s something so meditative about working those ribbing sections, only to be rewarded by the beautiful braided look of the cables streaming down the sleeves and body.
I designed this with just the right amount of positive ease (about 4 inches / 10 cm), because I wanted it to be the kind of sweater you can just throw on over a skirt or jeans and instantly feel pulled together, yet totally relaxed. It has a slightly deep, modern armhole and a cozy ribbed neckband that frames the face just right.
Whether you’re a cable lover or just looking for your next "forever" sweater, I hope you enjoy knitting Pehmis as much as I enjoyed bringing it to life. It’s squishy, it’s soft, and it’s now ready for your needles!
