The polar star has been an essential navigational tool for sea-farers for thousands of years, it is the axis point upon which the earth turns and around which all stars appear to spin. Here in the Hebrides, on a cold, clear winters night we have beautiful dark skies and I love nothing more than to step outside to seek out the polar star amongst the myriad of sparkling constellations. If we are lucky, we may also catch a glimpse of the northern lights.

A key feature in this sweater design is the polar star motif down the length of the arm that uses the Eriskay star gansey pattern as a starting point. The sweater is designed to be worn on breezy Sunday stomps or to cosy up on the sofa with a good book but will also look great in the city on a cold winters day.

The sweater pattern is suitable for intermediate skilled knitters. It is loose fitting with split sides and a back slightly longer than the front. All parts are knitted flat then sewn together. The sleeves are cast on at the wrist using a provisional method then knitted up from the wrists, continued across half of each shoulder (left & right) and are then grafted across the back and front to form a yoke. Once all sections are sewn together stitches are picked up around the neck which is then knitted upwards to create a cowl and the cuffs are knitted down from the sleeves in the round to the desired length.