Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Antoinette Pullover Knitting

Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Antoinette Pullover

What Is Being Made

The Antoinette Pullover is a classic knitted sweater designed by Beryl Hiatt and Lindy Ward. This pullover is a versatile wardrobe staple available in three size ranges: Small/Medium, Large/XL, and 2X/3X. The finished garment features a lower edge measuring 46 to 55 inches with a length of approximately 24¾ to 29 inches, making it suitable for various body types and style preferences.

Techniques Used

This sweater is constructed using the bottom-up seamed method, meaning pieces are knitted individually from the lower edges upward and then sewn together. The pattern is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for greater control over shaping and construction. The bottom-up approach enables knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and adjust length as needed before binding off.

The design incorporates strategic shaping at different rates on the sides, as noted in the pattern instructions. This technique creates a fitted silhouette by increasing stitches at varying intervals on different sections of the sweater. The neck shaping uses a combination of bind-offs and decreases to create a refined neckline, with 4 stitches bound off once, followed by 3-stitch bind-offs, 2-stitch decreases, and single-stitch decreases worked every other row.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch throughout the body of the sweater, created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows. This produces the classic smooth, V-textured fabric characteristic of traditional pullover sweaters.
• K2, P2 Rib: A ribbed stitch pattern used for the lower edge and cuffs, created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a 2-by-2 pattern. Ribbing provides elasticity and helps the sweater maintain its shape, typically worked over 3 inches at the lower edge.
• K2tog (Knit 2 Together): A decrease stitch used throughout the pattern for shaping the neck and sides, created by knitting two stitches together through the front loops to reduce stitch count.

Materials and Gauge

The Antoinette Pullover calls for 9 to 11 balls of S. Charles Collezione DIAMANTE yarn, depending on size. This yarn is a premium blend composed of 63% wool, 32% nylon, and 5% polyester, with each ball weighing 1.75 ounces and containing 104 yards of yardage. The recommended color is #12 sapphire, a rich blue shade that provides classic appeal.

Two pairs of needles are required: size 11 (8mm) needles for working the main stockinette stitch sections and size 10½ (6.5mm) needles for the ribbed cuff sections. The size difference between needle pairs allows for gauge control and proper fabric density in different sections. The pattern specifies a gauge of 14 stitches and 19 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the larger needles, making it essential to knit a gauge swatch before beginning the project. A yarn needle is also required for seaming the finished pieces together.