Paintbox Yarns Diamond Fairisle Sweater Knitting Pattern

Paintbox Yarns Diamond Fairisle Sweater

What is Being Made

The Paintbox Yarns Diamond Fairisle Sweater is an advanced-level knitted pullover garment available in five sizes to fit chest measurements from 76–81 cm (30–32 inches) up to 112–117 cm (44–46 inches). The finished sweater features a fairisle patterned design with diamond motifs worked across the body, offering a sophisticated colorwork project for experienced knitters.

Techniques Used

This sweater is constructed using several key knitting techniques suited to advanced crafters:

• Stranded Fairisle: The primary colorwork method, where multiple yarn colors are carried across the back of the work to create the diamond pattern on the right side of the fabric.
• Worked Flat: The garment pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for easier pattern management during the fairisle sections.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is assembled beginning at the lower edge and working upward toward the shoulders, with pieces seamed together after completion.
• Seamed Assembly: Individual knitted pieces are joined using a large-eyed needle and mattress stitch or similar seaming technique to create the finished garment.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches combined with shaping decreases and increases:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches: The basic building blocks of the fabric, with stockinette stitch (alternating knit and purl rows) forming the primary ground texture.
• Knit 2 Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used for shaping the armholes, neckline, and sleeve caps.
• Purl 2 Together (p2tog) and Purl 2 Together Through the Back Loop (p2togtbl): Left-leaning decreases employed on wrong-side rows for balanced shaping.
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): An alternative left-leaning decrease that creates a neat edge detail.
• Make 1 (m1): An increase stitch used to add stitches where needed for garment shaping.

Materials Required

The Paintbox Yarns Diamond Fairisle Sweater requires Paintbox Yarns Simply DK yarn in four coordinated colors. The yardage needed varies by size: the smallest size requires 3 balls of Slate Green (color A), 2 balls of Vintage Pink (color C), 1 ball each of Granite Grey (color B) and Vanilla Cream (color D), with larger sizes requiring additional yardage of the main color. Each ball weighs 50 grams.

Knitting needles required include 4mm (UK size 8, US size 6) straight needles for working the flat pieces and a 4mm circular needle measuring 100 cm (40 inches) in length. Additional materials include stitch holders for securing stitches during construction, scissors, and a large-eyed needle for seaming the finished pieces together.

Gauge and Tension

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit. The pattern specifies a tension of 25 stitches and 23 rows to a 10 cm (4-inch) square when worked in fairisle using 4mm needles. Knitters should swatch their chosen yarn and needle combination to verify gauge before beginning the project, adjusting needle size as needed to match the specified tension.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The sweater is offered in five sizes with the following finished chest measurements: 57.5 cm (22½ inches), 61 cm (24 inches), 63.5 cm (25 inches), 68.5 cm (27 inches), and 74 cm (29 inches). Finished length to the shoulder ranges from 54.5 cm (21½ inches) in the smallest size to 59 cm (23¼ inches) in the largest size, with underarm seam length consistent at 46–47 cm (18⅛–18½ inches) across all sizes.