Plymouth Yarn Stripe Outside the Box Pullover Knitting

Plymouth Yarn Stripe Outside the Box Pullover

What is Being Made

The Stripe Outside the Box Pullover is a classic knitted sweater designed to fit sizes S through 2XL, with finished bust measurements ranging from 33½ inches to 50½ inches and lengths from 25½ inches to 28 inches. This pullover features a contemporary striped design created through strategic color changes in the sleeves, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and seasons.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the sweater is knitted starting from the lower edge and working upward toward the shoulders. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, and pieces are seamed together upon completion. The design incorporates stripe patterning that alternates between the main color and contrast color, with different stripe sequences for the left and right sleeves to create visual interest and dimension.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St St): The primary stitch throughout most of the garment, created by knitting all right-side rows and purling all wrong-side rows. This produces the classic smooth, V-textured fabric that serves as the foundation for the striped design.
• K2/P2 Ribbing: A knit-two, purl-two ribbed pattern worked at the lower edge of the sweater. This elastic ribbing is created over a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2 additional stitches and provides stretch and shape retention at the hem, helping the garment maintain its fit during wear.

Stripe Patterns

The Left Sleeve Stripe Pattern consists of 20 rows worked in the contrast color (Citron) followed by 6 rows in the main color (Black), repeating this 26-row sequence throughout the sleeve. The Right Sleeve Stripe Pattern differs with 12 rows of the main color (Black) followed by 4 rows of the contrast color (Citron), creating a 16-row repeat. This asymmetrical striping approach adds contemporary visual appeal and prevents the sleeves from appearing identical.

Materials and Gauge

The pattern calls for Plymouth Yarn Tussah Kissed yarn, a luxurious fiber blend. For the main color (MC), use color #107 Black, requiring 3 to 4 skeins of 100 grams depending on size. The contrast color (CC) is color #103 Citron, requiring 1 skein of 100 grams. The recommended gauge is 21 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch when worked with US size 5 [3.75mm] needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements.

Needles and Additional Materials

Construction requires US size 4 [3.5mm] circular needles in 16-inch length for the ribbed cuff and US size 5 [3.75mm] needles for the main body and sleeves. Additional materials include stitch markers, safety pins or removable stitch markers for marking increases and decreases, stitch holders for temporarily holding stitches, and an extra US size 5 [3.75mm] knitting needle for performing a three-needle bind-off when seaming the shoulders.

Construction Details

The back piece begins with a long-tail cast-on of 90 to 134 stitches depending on size, worked with the main color on US size 5 needles. The ribbed cuff is worked in K2/P2 ribbing until the piece measures 1½ inches. The body then continues in stockinette stitch until reaching 18 inches in length. Armhole shaping is achieved through strategic increases worked 1 stitch in from the edges at regular intervals. Selvedge stitches are incorporated into the stitch count but do not appear on the schematic, allowing for clean seaming of the finished pieces.