Banda Zipper

Size: (1) 2 (3) 4 (5) 6 (7)

Bust circumference: (70) 75 (80) 84 (88) 92 (97) cm around the bust.

Size guide: The knit should have a negative ease of 10 cm to ensure a snug fit. This means that the bust circumference of the knit should be 10 cm smaller than the actual bust measurement.

Gauge: 9 stitches x 15 rows in stockinette stitch = 10 x 10 cm (after washing).

Recommended needles:

• 10 mm needles (40 and 60/80 cm)
• 9 mm needles (40 cm)

Length: (50) 52 (54) 56 (58) 60 (62) cm measured from the neck (or desired length).

Yarn selection:

The Banda-zipper in the picture is knitted with two thick yarn strands and mohair threads in various shades, added to create a beautiful color play. This is an ideal upcycling project.

Which yarn should you choose?

Upcycled yarn or new yarn?

Upcycled yarn:
Consider using recycled or leftover yarn for your knitting. It is more affordable and better for the environment.
Experiment until you achieve a gauge of 9 stitches x 15 rows = 10 cm.
See the “Color scheme” section for more information.

Amount needed:
(550) 600 (600) 650 (650) 700 (750) meters of each strand.

New yarn:
For a size 3, I used:

• 4 skeins of Air from DROPS Yarn (2 skeins in Wheat (02) and 2 skeins in Beige (26), alternating between them)
• 6 skeins of Merino Extra Fine from DROPS Yarn (in Natural, used throughout)

Additionally, various brown shades of mohair and brushed alpaca were randomly incorporated into the sweater to create a color play.

Example:

• 1 skein Brushed Alpaca Silk from DROPS (05 Beige)
• 1 skein Kid-Silk from DROPS (15 Dark Brown)
• 3 skeins of continuous mohair threads from DROPS in a white/natural color

See the “Color scheme” section for more details.

Alternative suggestion: (All strands used continuously)

• (3) 4 (4) 4 (4) 4 (4) Infinity Hearts Orchid Yarn
• (3) 3 (3) 4 (4) 4 (4) Kid-Silk from DROPS
• (11) 12 (12) 13 (13) 14 (15) Infinity Hearts Snowdrop

COLOR SCHEME:

In my Banda-zipper, I incorporated a color play consisting of various brown shades.

There are three elements in the color play:

1. A continuous white wool thread
2. A blow yarn that is randomly replaced with another color throughout the zipper
3. Mohair/alpaca threads: A continuous white mohair thread and different shades of brown, added randomly throughout the project.