Edie Trompe L’Oeil Pullover Jumper Knitting Pattern

Edie Trompe L'Oeil Pullover by Pamela Wynne Herriot

What Is Being Made

The Edie Trompe L'Oeil Pullover is a fitted knit sweater designed to create an optical illusion effect through strategic color placement and shaping techniques. This downloadable knitting pattern is available in seven sizes ranging from XS to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 30 inches (76 cm) to 54 inches (137 cm). The garment showcases a sophisticated design approach that uses visual trickery—the term "trompe l'oeil" refers to art that deceives the eye—to create depth and dimension in the finished sweater.

Techniques Used

This pullover employs intarsia as its primary colorwork technique, which involves knitting with different colored yarns in separate sections of the fabric rather than carrying yarn across the back. The intarsia work is kept intentionally simple, making this pattern accessible to knitters with intermediate skills. Additionally, short rows are strategically incorporated throughout the design to create shaping and enhance the trompe l'oeil visual effect. The pattern also features applied I-cord, a decorative technique where a cord is knitted separately using double-pointed needles and then sewn or grafted onto the finished garment pieces for added detail and dimension.

Stitches and Construction Details

The primary stitch used throughout the Edie pullover is stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a knit face and purl back. This foundational stitch provides an ideal canvas for the intarsia colorwork to stand out clearly. The pattern incorporates standard knitting abbreviations and techniques including make one increases (M1) for shaping, decreases for fitted construction, and slip stitches for various techniques. The I-cord application involves casting on stitches, working in the round on double-pointed needles, and grafting or binding off to integrate the cord seamlessly into the garment.

Materials and Yarn Information

The Edie Trompe L'Oeil Pullover is designed to be knitted with Juniper Moon Farm Herriot yarn. The main color (MC) requires 5 to 10 hanks depending on size, using color #02 Heartwood for the primary fabric. A contrasting color (CC) of 1 hank in color #01 Talc is used for the intarsia colorwork sections. The pattern calls for US size 4 (3.5 mm) needles as the primary needle size, with options for circular needles (16 inches / 40 cm) or straight needles, plus a set of 4 or 5 double-pointed needles for various construction elements. A US size 3 (3.25 mm) needle one size smaller is also required for ribbing or other sections requiring a tighter gauge. The recommended gauge is 24 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch using the larger needles.

Additional Notions and Finishing

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires five small shank buttons for closure details, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping, a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, and waste yarn for provisional cast-ons used in the I-cord application technique. These notions support the construction of a polished, finished garment with professional detailing.