Classic Elite Yarns Long Sleeve Pullover Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Long Sleeve Pullover

What Is Being Made

The Classic Elite Yarns Long Sleeve Pullover is a sophisticated, lightweight sweater designed for warm-weather winter wear. This pullover features slight A-line shaping that skims the silhouette elegantly while maintaining comfort. The garment is available in four sizes with finished bust measurements of 33¾ (36½, 40, 43½) inches and length measurements of 22 (22½, 23, 23½) inches. The design was created by Suzanne Shaw and originally published in Spring 2013 in Handmade Los Angeles I, a printed collection of designs.

Construction Techniques

This pullover is constructed using a bottom-up seamed method, meaning the body is knitted from the lower edge upward and then seamed together. The garment is worked in the round for the initial body construction before being divided for the front and back pieces. The designer emphasizes treating the project as fabric first, considering how the material will feel against the skin, how it will drape, and how it will flatter the wearer—principles typically associated with sewing that are equally important in knitting.

Stitches and Shaping Details

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches and techniques appropriate for an intermediate skill level. Key stitch abbreviations include knit (K), purl (P), slip stitch (Slip), decrease stitches (ssk for slip, slip, knit; k2tog for knit two together; p2tog for purl two together; ssp for slip, slip, purl). The sweater features strategic shaping at the underarm, where stitches are bound off to create armholes. Subsequent rows employ paired decreases on both sides of the work to shape the armholes, with the pattern specifying decreases on both right-side and wrong-side rows for a refined silhouette.

Yarn and Materials

The pullover is designed to be knitted with Silky Alpaca Lace by Classic Elite Yarns, a luxurious yarn blend composed of 70% alpaca and 30% silk. Each 50-gram ball yields approximately 440 yards of yarn. The pattern requires 4 (5, 5, 6) balls depending on size, using colorway 2424 Slate. The designer's signature technique involves holding two strands of Silky Alpaca Lace together, which creates a gorgeous, substantial fabric that is light enough for warm-weather wear yet structured enough to skim the body elegantly. This two-strand construction transforms the delicate lace yarn into a more cohesive fabric suitable for a pullover garment.

Design Philosophy

The pullover embodies a thoughtful approach to garment design that prioritizes the tactile and visual qualities of the finished piece. The use of alpaca and silk creates a fabric that is both soft against the skin and drapes beautifully, while the slight A-line shaping provides a flattering fit that works for various body types. The intermediate skill level makes this project accessible to knitters with foundational knowledge while still offering the satisfaction of creating a sophisticated, wearable garment.