Classic Elite Yarns Pearce Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Pearce Knit Pullover

What is Being Made

The Pearce is a modified drop shoulder, round neck pullover sweater designed by Tian Foley. Originally published in Quest 1710A, this knit garment features a striking combination of stripes and cable patterns as focal design elements. The pullover is constructed using a bottom-up knitting method, making it an accessible project for knitters who prefer building from the hem upward.

Construction Techniques

This sweater is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, and the pieces are seamed together after completion. The bottom-up construction begins with the back piece, followed by the front, and finishing with the sleeves and neckline shaping. The garment uses a two-needle approach, allowing knitters to work each section as a flat rectangle before assembly.

The pattern is designed with staggered cable placement—the cable patterns are established earlier on the back than on the front, creating visual interest and dimension. During neck shaping, the pattern includes helpful guidance: if there are not enough stitches remaining to work a complete cable motif, knitters simply work the partial cable stitches as they appear, knitting the knits and purling the purls.

Stitches Used

The Pearce incorporates several key stitch patterns:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): Forms the base fabric and provides a smooth canvas for the cable work
• 2 x 2 Rib: A multiple of 4 stitches plus 2, alternating knit and purl columns to create an elastic, textured edge. This stitch is worked over 2 rows and repeated throughout ribbed sections
• Left Twist Cable: Worked over 12 stitches with a 12-row repeat pattern. Features a C8F (cable 8 front) cross that creates a leftward-leaning twisted cable effect
• Right Twist Cable: Also worked over 12 stitches with a 12-row repeat. Uses a C8B (cable 8 back) cross to create a rightward-leaning twisted cable effect
• Center Cable: Worked over 18 stitches with a 12-row repeat pattern. This larger cable combines both C8F and C8B crosses in the same repeat, creating a more complex central motif with alternating cable directions

The cable stitches are the signature elements of this design, with the Left Twist and Right Twist cables positioned symmetrically on either side of the Center Cable to frame the chest and create balanced visual interest.

Materials and Tools

This pattern is designed to be worked with yarn in a weight suitable for the specified needle size, and larger needles are called for in the pattern instructions. The garment is available in multiple sizes (with stitch counts ranging from 84 to 114 cast-on stitches), allowing for customization to different body measurements. Knitters will need straight needles appropriate to their yarn weight, as the flat construction method requires two needles rather than circular needles.

Pattern Details

The back piece begins with a garter stitch border (8 rows of knit), followed by a transition section with edge stitches. The pattern then establishes stockinette stitch before introducing the cable patterns at the 7-inch mark from the cast-on edge. The cable placement creates vertical lines of texture that draw the eye upward, while the modified drop shoulder construction provides a relaxed, contemporary fit. The round neckline is shaped during the final stages of the front piece, with careful attention to maintaining partial cable stitches during decreases.