We could not resist these beautiful kits from Daruma, made in collaboration with the talented knitwear designer Midori Hirose. This circular yoke sweater, worked from the top down, comes in 12 sizes ranging from 2XS (which can be adapted to children’s sizes) to 6XL. The pattern mixes a range of Daruma yarns, built on a base yarn for the body of Airy Wool Alpaca (80 percent wool, 20 percent alpaca).

Each kit combines 10 colours and several yarn bases to make up patchwork flowers in a colour palettes chosen by Midori - including schemes that honour artists Marc Chagall and Paul Klee. The flowers are worked in a traditional Estonian technique called Roosimine (“rose”) in which the floats are carried on the right side while knitting. The pattern made with this technique is called Roositud.

The base yarn is Airy Wool Alpaca from Daruma, a lofty blend of merino and alpaca (80 percent / 20 percent).

The pattern is designed to fit with 10–15cm / 4–6“ of positive ease.

We’ve assembled three kits to cover a range of sizes, from finished bust sizes of 86cm to 124cm. The pattern extends to a 166cm bust size - we have extra Airy Wool Alpaca on hand if you need to accommodate a larger bust size, or to ensure you’ve got enough to lengthen the sweater body or arms.

Size 1 covers 2XS to S, with finished bust sizes of 86cm to 98cm, and has eight balls of the base yarn.

Size 2 covers M1-M2, with finished bust sizes from 104cm to 110cm, and has nine balls of the base yarn.

Size 3 covers L-XL, with finished bust sizes from 116cm to 124cm, and has 11 balls of the base yarn.

Each kit contains enough yarn to knit to the size you’ve chosen. If your size requires extra skeins of the base yarn, please order those separately. Everything comes packed in a beautiful, organic cotton backpack with a design from the creative team at amirisu.

Please note a couple of things:

• You’ll need to purchase the pattern online directly from Midori through Ravelry via this link. If you can’t use that service, send us an email at hello@newtownhouse.co.nz.

• We don’t stock all of these yarns regularly - but we do have Silk Mohair, Wool Mohair, Genmou and Airy Wool Alpaca on hand if you find you want / need more.

The kits in detail:

01 Midsummer Crown is spring greens, pinks and yellows.

Main colour: Airy Wool Alpaca 02 (oatmeal)

Leaf colour: Geek 06 (green x white)

Flowers: iroiro 11 (brownie); iroiro 15 (cobalt blue); iroiro 31 (lemon); iroiro 01 (off-white); iroiro 13 (ultramarine); iroiro 38 (cherry pink); iroiro 41 (sweet pea); iroiro 28 (pistachio); iroiro 43 (radish); and iroiro 45 (wild grape). (iroiro is held double.)

Contents include main colour plus 1 ball of Geek for the leaves and 10 balls of iroiro for the flowers.

02 Dandelion is for fans grey + yellow.

Main colour: Airy Wool Alpaca 08 (dark grey)

Leaf colour: Geek 07 (milk x purple)

Flowers: Wool Mohair 01 (natural white); iroiro 32 (lime yellow); Silk Mohair (01 white); iroiro 27 (first tea); iroiro 28 (pistachio); Loop 01 (ecru); Genmou 01 (ivory); iroiro 31 (lemon); iroiro 29 (canary); iroiro 01 (off white).

Contents include main colour plus 1 ball of Geek for the leaves, and 6 balls of iroiro and a set of mini balls of the other yarns for the flowers.

03 Berry Picking is all about chocolate berries.

Main colour: Airy Wool Alpaca 11 (chocolate)

Leaf colour: Geek 01 (moss green x coral)

Flowers: Geek 07 (milk x purple); iroiro 27 (first tea); iroiro 17 (night sky); Loop 07 (beige); iroiro 37 (red); Airy Wool Alpaca 10 (navy x ecru); iroiro 24 (moss), Loop 04 (mauve); iroiro 13 (ultramarine); iroiro 43 (radish).

Contents include main colour plus 1 ball of Geek for the leaves, and 6 balls of iroiro and a set of mini balls of the other yarns for the flowers.

04 Paul Klee mixes blues with pink.

Main colour: Airy Wool Alpaca 06 (navy)

Leaf colour: Geek 05 (tomato x blue)

Flowers: iro iro 09 (sand beige); Loop 07 (beige); iroiro 40 (sakura); Airy Wool Alpaca (navy x ecru); Loop 04 (mauve); iroiro 17 (night sky); iroiro 29 (canary); Geek 07 (milk x purple); iroiro 22 (soda pop); iroiro 27 (first tea).

Contents include main colour plus 1 ball of Geek for the leaves, and 6 balls of iroiro and a set of mini balls of the other yarns for the flowers.

05 Marc Chagall is all about bright blooms on a blue background.

Main colour: Airy Wool Alpaca 06 (navy)

Leaf colour: Geek 02 (blue x chrome yellow)

Flowers: Loop 04 (mauve); iroiro 35 (mandarin orange); Genmou 19 (carrot); Loop 07 (beige); iroiro 31 (lemon); iroiro 38 (cherry pink); iroiro 24 (moss); Loop 02 (red); iroiro 30 (yuzu pepper); iroiro 22 (soda pop).

Contents include main colour plus 1 ball of Geek for the leaves, and 6 balls of iroiro and a set of mini balls of the other yarns for the flowers.

Instagram and Ravelry are both full of Karelia inspiration.

The yarns have the following fibre compositions:

Airy Wool Alpaca : 80 percent wool, 20 percent alpaca; 100m/30g
Geek: 56 percent wool, 30 percent polyester, 14 percent alpaca; 70m/30g
iroiro: 100 percent Wool; 70m/20g
Genmou: 100 percent merino wool; 91m/30g
Loop: 83 percent wool, 17 percent alpaca; 43m/30g
Wool Mohair : 56 percent mohair, 44 percent merino wool; 46m/20g
Silk Mohair: 60 percent Mohair, 40 percent silk; 300m/25g

Photos: Daruma