Cape Cod Unisex Pullover Sweater in Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool

Cape Cod Unisex Pullover Sweater in Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool

Project Overview

The Cape Cod Unisex Pullover is a classic knitted sweater designed for a relaxed, comfortable fit. This pattern from Lion Brand Yarn offers three finished chest sizes: 44 inches, 48 inches, and 50 inches, making it suitable for a wide range of body types. The sweater features a traditional pullover construction with set-in sleeves and a finished neckband, creating a timeless garment that works for both men and women.

Materials and Tools

This project is worked in Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool (Art. No. 150), a worsted-weight yarn supplied in 8-ounce skeins. The natural colorway (No. 098) is used throughout, requiring 4 skeins total to complete the sweater. Knitters will need Size 8 straight knitting needles for the body and sleeves, plus a 16-inch circular needle in the same size for the neckband. A single stitch holder is required for holding stitches during neck shaping.

Gauge and Fit

The pattern specifies a gauge of 4.5 stitches and 8 rows per 1 inch when worked in the stripe pattern. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements, and knitters are strongly advised to knit and measure a gauge swatch before beginning the project.

Stripe Pattern Technique

The Cape Cod sweater features a textured stripe pattern that creates visual interest through alternating rows of knit and purl stitches. The stripe pattern repeats over 16 rows and is structured as follows: rows 1 and 3 are knit on the right side, rows 2 and 4 are purl, rows 5 and 6 are knit, rows 7 and 9 are knit with rows 8 and 10 purled, and rows 11 through 16 are worked entirely in knit stitches. This creates a subtle ribbed texture that adds dimension to the finished sweater while remaining relatively simple to execute.

Back Panel Construction

The back begins with a cast-on of 99, 108, or 113 stitches depending on size. The piece starts with 8 rows of garter stitch (knitting every row), which creates a stable, textured edge. After the garter stitch foundation, the knitter places markers to define slit edges: 5 stitches are kept in garter stitch on each side, while the center stitches are worked in the stripe pattern for approximately 5 inches. Once the slit edges are completed, the markers are removed and the stripe pattern continues across all stitches until the back measures 27 or 28 inches from the cast-on edge, at which point all stitches are bound off.

Front Panel and Neck Shaping

The front is worked identically to the back until it measures 24 or 25 inches from the beginning. At this point, neck shaping begins. The knitter divides the work by working 44, 48, or 50 stitches, then placing the center 11, 12, or 13 stitches on a holder and working the remaining stitches. Using two separate skeins of yarn, both sides are worked simultaneously. Neck shaping is accomplished by binding off 3 stitches twice at each neck edge, then binding off 2 stitches 3 or 4 times, and finally binding off 1 stitch twice on each side. The front continues in stripe pattern until it matches the back length, then the remaining 30, 32, or 34 stitches on each side are bound off at the shoulders.

Sleeve Construction

Each sleeve begins with a cast-on of 39 or 41 stitches and is worked in the stripe pattern from the beginning. Sleeve shaping is achieved through strategic increases: 1 stitch is increased at each end every 5 rows for 20 or 21 increases, then every 4 rows for an additional 10, 11, or 12 increases, resulting in 99, 103, or 107 stitches. The sleeve continues even in pattern until it measures 20 or 21 inches from the cast-on edge, then all stitches are bound off.

Finishing and Neckband

Assembly begins with sewing the front and back panels together at the shoulders. The neckband is created by picking up and knitting 105, 109, or 113 stitches around the neck edge using the circular needle, including the stitches held on the holder. The neckband is worked in rounds with alternating purl and knit rounds