Colmena Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Colmena Sweater in Malabrigo Silky Merino

What is Being Made

The Colmena Sweater is a highly textured pullover designed by Irina Anikeeva that combines visual richness with a sleek, flattering silhouette. This women's pullover features rich honeycomb cables covering the front and back, creating a striking focal point. The design includes flattering side shaping within the textured panels that slide effortlessly over the shoulder and down the arm. A casual split hem on either side of the hip adds contemporary styling to this advanced knitting project. The sweater is available in five sizes ranging from Small to 2XL, with actual bust measurements from 35 to 51 inches (89 to 130 cm).

Techniques Used

This top-down construction sweater employs several advanced knitting techniques that create both visual interest and a custom fit. The garment is worked from the top down on circular needles, allowing for seamless construction and the ability to try on during the knitting process. The pattern incorporates raglan increases combined with short-row shaping at the yoke to create the flattering shoulder and neckline shaping. The charts are worked both in rounds and in back and forth rows, requiring the knitter to understand how to read and execute cables in both directions. When working in rounds, every row is treated as a right side row, which affects how pattern stitches are executed. The split hem construction adds an additional design element that requires careful shaping and finishing.

Stitches Used

The Colmena Sweater showcases multiple stitch patterns that work together to create texture and visual appeal. The ribbing foundation uses k1, p1 rib (knit one, purl one ribbing) at the neckline for 1.5 inches to create a fitted edge. The body features a Horizontal Rib pattern worked in the round, which alternates between knit rounds and purl rounds to create subtle texture. The pattern specifies that rounds 1 through 3 are knit, while rounds 4 and 5 are purl, creating the horizontal ribbed effect. The signature element of this sweater is the Cable Pattern, which forms the honeycomb cables across the front and back panels. These cables are charted and worked according to the specific sizing, with the pattern provided in the downloadable PDF. The combination of these stitches creates a sweater that is visually complex while remaining wearable and elegant.

Materials and Tools

The Colmena Sweater is knitted in Malabrigo Silky Merino, a luxury yarn blend consisting of 51% silk and 49% merino wool. This fiber combination creates a garment that is surprisingly sleek and sexy despite the textured stitch patterns. The yarn provides 150 yards (137 meters) per 50-gram skein, and the pattern requires 7 to 12 skeins depending on size, with the Natural #063 colorway shown in the pattern. The project calls for multiple needle sizes to accommodate different sections of the sweater. US 4 (3 mm) needles are used for the ribbed neckline, available in both 16-inch (40 cm) and 24-inch (60 cm) circular options, along with double-pointed needles for smaller circumferences. US 5 (3.75 mm) needles are used for the main body and pattern sections, also available in 16-inch and 24-inch circular needles plus double-pointed needles. Additional notions include a cable needle for working the honeycomb cables, stitch markers to denote pattern repeats and construction sections, a tapestry needle for finishing, and waste yarn for holding stitches. The gauge after blocking is 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in the Horizontal Rib pattern on US 5 needles, and 25 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in the Cable Pattern on US 5 needles.