Strands of Joy II is the STUNNING and highly anticipated sequel to Anna Johanna’s popular first book. This new collection is themed around big colourwork patterns and untreated wool yarn.
The book contains 17 knitting patterns ranging from sweaters and cardigans to accessories. All the designs have been inspired by Anna Johanna’s youth, sprinkling the modern knits with a dash of nostalgia for the turn of the millennium. Check out our YARN RECOMMENDATIONS on the "Yarn Suggestions" tab. (Yardage info for each pattern can be found here.)
“Spend a bit of time with me reminiscing, get lost in your own memories and knit new ones into the stitches on your needles. That is what knits do, after all — carry memories with them.”
Anna Johanna is a knitwear designer from Jyväskylä, Central Finland. She is known for her often-romantic knits with much love for details, textures and colors. Since 2020, this former statistician has been designing full-time. Anna Johanna’s debut book, Strands of Joy, was published in 2021. @_.annajohanna._ / annajohannadesigns.com
176 pages
17 patterns: 7 sweaters, 5 cardigans, 2 pairs of socks, 1 cowl, 1 pair of mittens and 1 pair of fingerless mitts.
Hardback
Ribbon place marker
Language: English
Weight: Approx. 915 g / 2 lb
Dimensions: 213 x 276 x 19 mm
Printed in Latvia.
Patterns for sweaters and cardigans come in 8–12 sizes. All are graded to fit up to a 62" /bust at minimum.
Strands of Joy Vol. II embraces the magic of colorwork knitting. Anna Johanna has designed something for everyone in this fresh, modern and whimsical book. — Kristin Drysdale, knitwear designer and author
Sweet personal stories introduce each knit, reflecting Anna's lively imagination and cheerful outlook. We join her adventures growing up in small-town Finland, encountering frogs, foxes, familiar upholstery, and the changing landscape, all spiced with 1990s pop culture! — Mary Jane Mucklestone, knitwear designer and author
With her second book, Anna Johanna invites us to discover through her memories a fun and interesting palette of textured and colorwork designs, which I believe anyone can enjoy through knitting. — Jenny Ansah, knitwear designer
Here are our top yarn recommendations for each pattern in this publication!
This sweater is worked top down seamlessly. The sweater has a round yoke with damask colourwork and a bit more colourwork on the hem. But the showstopper is the bigger pattern featured centre front.
Le Petit Lambswool by Biches & Buches
La Madrilana by dLana
Holst Supersoft
Woolstok Light by Blue Sky Fibers
These mittens are worked in double knitting. It makes them completely reversible, and the double layer is great for keeping your fingers warm in winter.
Highland Wool by Isager
Alpaca 2 by Isager
Lamb 2 by Einrum
Meadow by The Fibre Co
Berry Bushes is an oversized cardigan with colour-blocking on the waist. The cardigan is worked flat, seamlessly from the top down. It has long raglan sleeves and a boxy shape with no waist shaping. The waist has a beautiful leaf pattern after which the colors are switched, and the hem will be worked with a different color.
Lalland DK by Di Gilpin
Cautiva by Wool Dreamers
Rustic Heather Sport by Lichen & Lace
Noro Silk Garden Sock Solo
Scented Erasers is a pair of fingerless mittens with an Indian thumb gusset, and the top ribbing worn folded over.
Pudding by Mrs Moon
Lalland DK by Di Gilpin
Cautiva by Wool Dreamers
Rustic Heather Sport by Lichen & Lace
Eco Melange by Isager
This little sweater is worked top down, seamlessly, and has a round yoke with a sweet bubble pattern. The sweater has short sleeves and a cropped hem. The ribbings feature a little i-cord detail worked with the contrast colour.
Merino Cloud by Artyarns
Opus by Walcot Yarns
Suave by Pascuali
Lalland DK by Di Gilpin
Cautiva by Wool Dreamers
Compass Rose is a relaxed boxy sweater with a fun colorwork pattern on the hem. The sweater is worked top down, seamlessly. It has ¾-length sleeves, a V-neck and a wide boxy shape with no waist shaping.
Le Petit Lambswool by Biches & Buches
La Madrilana by dLana
Holst Supersoft
Woolstok Light by Blue Sky Fibers
Isager Tweed
Merilin by Isager
Crocodile Line is a relaxed cardigan worked flat top down. The cardigan features alternating simple colourwork stripes and paired back cables that are separated by neat i-cords.
Sheepsoft DK by ByLaxtons
Lore by The Fibre Co
Woolstok Worsted by Blue Sky Fibers
Skinny Andean Wool by KAOS
Croft DK by WYS
Jensen by Isager
This sweater is worked top down seamlessly. It starts with a tall cowl neck worked in two-colour brioche and continues with a round yoke adorned with a plant colourwork pattern that has roots that go deep into the hem and sleeves. The design has long sleeves with the cuffs being worked in two-color brioche.
Sheepsoft DK by ByLaxtons
Bespoke DK by Clinton Hill Cashmere
Lore by The Fibre Co
Woolstok Worsted by Blue Sky Fibers
Croft DK by WYS
Jensen by Isager
This cardigan is worked seamlessly top down in the round. The cardigan has a round yoke with an enchanting spruce pattern. The showstopper, though, is the giant fox at center back. The cardigan has a folded turtleneck and long sleeves with more spruces at the cuff.
Silky Twist by Artyarns
Woolstok Worsted by Blue Sky Fibers
Santi by Illimani
Skinny Andean Wool by KAOS
Urth Collection DK
Origin by Walcot Yarns
These knee-high socks are worked toe up. The socks have a French heel and the gusset increases are worked at the center of the sole.
Amble by The Fibre Co
Garden Lupin is a relaxed, boxy cardigan with lupine-inspired colourwork and nupps. The cardigan is worked seamlessly top down. It has long sleeves with the cuffs worked with the contrast color. The hem is cropped and has no waist shaping.
Balayage by Pascuali
Merino Cloud by Artyarns
Organic Soft Merino by KAOS
Le Petit Lambswool by Biches & Buches
La Madrilana by dLana
Holst Supersoft
Woolstok Light by Blue Sky Fibers
Isager Tweed
Rascal Spirit is a cute, relaxed, over-sized pullover with a warm, tall turtleneck. The sweater is worked top down seamlessly. It has raglan sleeves, and the raglan seams are decorated with little leaves. The hem has both lace and colorwork on it. The showstopper, of course, is the sweetest little raccoon with its paw prints all over the place.
Skinny Andean Wool by KAOS
Sheepsoft DK by ByLaxtons
Bespoke DK by Clinton Hill Cashmere
Lore by The Fibre Co
Woolstok Worsted by Blue Sky Fibers
Croft DK by WYS
These mid-calf socks are worked cuff down. The socks come with a Fleegle heel, and the heel increases are worked at center back.
Merilin by Isager
Amble by The Fibre Co
Perennial by Kelbourne Woolens
Like a Ram is a comfy cardigan with a generous amount of positive ease. The cardigan is worked top down flat and features a wide shawl collar. The cardigan has an easy all-over colorwork pattern but if you are up for a challenge, you can work the glorious ram head at center back.
Manchelopi by Wooldreamers
Royal II by Illimani
Eco Soft by Isager
Amelie by Illimani
Alpaca 3 by Isager
Le Gros SIlk & Mohair by Biches & Buches
This sweater is worked top down seamlessly. The sweater has a round yoke with a gear-themed colourwork. The sweater has ¾-length sleeves and a slight A-line on the hem.
Cautiva by Wool Dreamers
Vaya by Lang
Lalland DK by Di Gilpin
Merino Cloud by Artyarns
Opus by Walcot Yarns
Woolstok Light by Blue Sky Fibers
This cowl is worked seamlessly in the round. The cowl uses a sport weight wool yarn for the main color and a sport weight wool yarn held together with lace weight silk-mohair for contrast colour to give it a special feel and look.
Rustic Heather Sport by Lichen & Lace
Pudding by Mrs Moon
Lalland DK by Di Gilpin
Cautiva by Wool Dreamers
Eco Melange by Isager
Noro Silk Garden Sock Solo
This sweater is worked top down seamlessly. It has an all-over plaid colourwork pattern with a big ‘Knit’ text on the front. The sleeves are raglan sleeves, and the hem is cropped. And there’s a little surprise at the back!
Ombre Merino Cloud by Artyarns
Rustic Heather Sport by Lichen & Lace
Pudding by Mrs Moon
Lalland DK by Di Gilpin
Cautiva by Wool Dreamers
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