Spun Flora began with a gift—handspun yarn from our friend Victoria @lonewolfknits, a birthday surprise that sparked a fresh take on one of our favorite designs, Antique Flora. The soft shifts in color, the unique texture of handspun fiber—each stitch felt alive, leading us to reimagine the motif and shape.

We’ve refined the colorwork, simplified the construction, and created a relaxed, easygoing silhouette that embraces the organic beauty of handspun. But no handspun? No problem. Spun Flora works beautifully with any DK yarn, letting you play with gauge, fit, and color in a way that’s entirely your own.

Construction

Spun Flora is knit seamlessly from the top down. After back-of-neck short rows, the colorwork yoke motif takes shape, worked in the round using a standard DK yarn for the main color and a handspun 3-ply or dk-weight yarn for the contrast. The remainder of the body is worked in stockinette, finished with clean 2x2 ribbing and a sewn bind-off.

Short sleeves keep things casual, with a simple 2x2 ribbed cuff. The easy, flexible shape makes it a perfect canvas for experimenting with gauge and fit. Check out of tester's versions for inspiration!

Yarn Recommendations

Spun Flora is designed with handspun in mind, celebrating the subtle variations in texture, weight, and color that make each skein unique. The colorwork motif thrives in both high-contrast and tonal pairings, letting you explore your stash or spin something special just for this project. Looking for fiber? We recommend 29 Bridges Studio for gorgeous hand-dyed hues—our handspun features the color Pietersite. Check out the photo section for a closer look at the fiber and handspun used in our sample.

• Main Color: DK-weight yarn or handspun equivalent

• Contrast Color: Fingering-weight yarn held double, DK-weight yarn, or handspun in a similar weight

Explore your stash for a rustic woolen handspun, a smooth superwash, or a treasured handspun, Spun Flora is ready to adapt to your yarn of choice.

Recommended Yarn:

Life in the Long Grass DK Twist

100% Extrafine Merino Superwash, 252 yards (230m)/115g

Yardage:

• Main Color: 600 (720, 820, 915, 1015, 1120)(1240, 1330, 1430, 1550, 1700) yards

550 (658, 750, 837, 928, 1024)(1134, 1216, 1308, 1417, 1555) meters

• Contrast Color (Handspun or equivalent): 170 (200, 235, 270, 295, 325)(350, 380, 410, 440 470) yards

155 (184, 215, 248, 270, 298)(320, 348, 375, 402, 430) meters

Sizing

With its relaxed shape and flexible fit, Spun Flora lets you customize as you go. The design is size-inclusive and easily adjusted for length and ease.

• Bust: 30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50)(54, 58, 62, 66, 70)”

76 (86.5, 96.5, 107, 117, 127)(137, 147, 157, 168, 178) cm

• Yoke Depth: 8 (8.5, 8.5, 9, 9, 10)(10, 11, 11, 12, 12)”

20.5 (21.5, 21.5, 23, 23, 25.5)(25.5, 28, 28, 30.5, 30.5) cm

• Upper Arm: 10 (11, 12, 13, 14.5, 16)(17.5, 19, 22, 24, 26)”

25.5 (28, 30.5, 33, 37, 40.5)(44.5, 48.5, 56, 61, 66) cm

• Body Length: Customizable, starting from 14” (36 cm)

• Sleeve Length: Customizable, starting from 1.5” (3.75 cm)

Gauge & Needles

Gauge:

• 24 sts x 28 rows in US 6 (4.00mm) stockinette in the round = 4" x 4"

• 24 sts x 28 rows in US 6 (4.00mm) stranded colorwork in the round = 4" x 4"

Needles:

• US 4 (3.50mm) 16" circular or double-pointed needles

• US 6 (4.00mm) 16-40" circular or double-pointed needles

More Colorwork to Love

Spun Flora isn’t our only design inspired by handspun yarn! If you love experimenting with color and texture, check out the Sundial Wrap (Handspun Edition). A different approach to colorwork which uses only one strand at a time, this mosaic-knit wrap celebrates the same playful spirit—perfect for mixing yarns, blending colors, and creating something truly unique.

Join the Wool & Pine Community

Want to share your Spun Flora? Join us in our Discord community to connect with fellow spinners, swap color ideas, and get inspired by stunning handknit creations.