Filatura Di Crosa Bellini Shell Jumper Knitting Pattern

Filatura Di Crosa Bellini Shell

What Is Being Made

The Bellini Shell is a sleeveless knitted sweater shell designed by Irina Poludnenko. This garment is a versatile layering piece available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 33¼ inches (84.5 cm) to 52¾ inches (134 cm) and lengths between 19½ inches (49.5 cm) and 22 inches (56 cm). The shell features a classic pullover construction suitable for wearing over long-sleeved shirts or as a standalone piece during warmer seasons.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques that create visual interest and structural shaping:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The shell is knitted from the hem upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and easily adjust the length if needed.
• Worked in the Round: The body is primarily constructed using circular needles, creating seamless fabric in the round for a smooth, continuous knit.
• Seamed Construction: Strategic seaming is incorporated to join sections and create finished edges, particularly at the neck and armholes.
• Striped Colorwork: The design features horizontal stripes created by alternating between two colors of yarn, adding visual dimension and interest to the finished piece.
• Short Rows with Wrap & Turn (W&T): Advanced shaping is achieved through short-row techniques, where the knitter wraps stitches and turns before completing a full round. This creates contoured shaping and allows for custom fit adjustments. The pattern includes detailed instructions for wrapping and turning on both knit and purl stitches, with specific guidance for picking up wraps on subsequent rows.

Stitches Used

The Bellini Shell utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with shaping decreases and increases:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary fabric stitch, worked in the round to create smooth, flat knit texture on the right side. The gauge is established at 20½ stitches and 28 rounds per 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.
• K1-f/b (Knit 1 Front and Back): An increase stitch that creates one additional stitch by knitting into the front loop and then the back loop of the same stitch, used for shaping increases at strategic points.
• K2tog (Knit 2 Together): A right-leaning decrease that combines two stitches into one, used for fitted shaping.
• Ssk or Ssp (Slip, Slip, Knit or Purl): A left-leaning decrease worked by slipping two stitches knitwise one at a time, returning them to the left needle in turned position, then knitting or purling them together through the back loops. This decrease is used to balance the right-leaning K2tog decreases for symmetrical shaping.

Materials

The Bellini Shell pattern calls for Filatura Di Crosa Tempo yarn, a blend of natural and synthetic fibers that provides durability and easy care. The yarn composition is 51% cotton, 37% acrylic, and 12% nylon, offering breathability from the cotton content combined with the resilience and elasticity of acrylic and nylon. Each ball weighs 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and provides 115 yards (105 meters) of yardage.

Yarn quantities vary by size: Small and Medium sizes require 3 balls of the main color, while Large and XL require 4 balls, and 2X and 3X require 5 balls. Secondary color yardage ranges from 2 balls (Small and Medium) to 4 balls (2X and 3X). The pattern specifies color #60 apple orchard as the primary color (A) and color #64 charcoal as the secondary color (B) for the striped design.

Needles required include one size 6 (4mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches (60 cm) long for the main body construction, and one size 6 (4mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches (40 cm) long for working the neck and armhole edgings. Additional notions include a stitch marker for tracking round beginnings, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming sections together. Knitters should verify their gauge matches the pattern requirement of 20½ stitches and 28 rounds per 4 inches (