Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Lydia Pullover Knitting Pattern

Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Lydia Pullover

What Is Being Made

The Lydia Pullover is a knitted sweater designed by Karen Tatro, offered in six sizes ranging from XS to 2XL. This pullover features a classic crew neckline and is constructed as a seamed garment with a finished bust measurement of 36¾ inches (XS) to 52½ inches (2XL), offering 6–8 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit. The garment length ranges from 23½ to 28 inches depending on size, making it suitable for various body proportions and style preferences.

Techniques Used

The Lydia Pullover is worked using the bottom-up construction method, meaning the knitter begins at the lower edge and works upward toward the shoulders. The garment is worked flat on circular needles, rather than in the round, and features seamed construction where the front and back pieces are joined together at the side seams and shoulders. This approach allows for straightforward shaping and makes it accessible to knitters of intermediate skill levels. The pattern is rated as Easy, making it an excellent choice for knitters seeking a manageable project with clear, straightforward instructions.

Stitches Used

The Lydia Pullover primarily utilizes two fundamental knitting stitches:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st) – The main fabric stitch, created by knitting on the right side (RS) and purling on the wrong side (WS). This stitch produces the smooth, classic V-pattern texture that forms the body of the sweater and is worked throughout the piece at a gauge of 17 stitches and 23 rows per 4 inches when blocked.
• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st) – Created by purling on the right side and knitting on the wrong side, producing a bumpy, textured surface. This stitch is incorporated into the design, likely for accent details or neckband elements.

The pattern also employs three-needle bind-off technique for joining the shoulder seams, a method that creates a strong, flexible seam by binding off two sets of live stitches together simultaneously while holding the front and back pieces with wrong sides together.

Materials and Tools

The Lydia Pullover is designed to be knitted with Stacy Charles GEMMA yarn, a blend of 63% recycled cotton, 27% recycled polyester, and 10% polyamide. The main color (MC) requires 7 to 11 balls depending on size, with each ball weighing 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and providing 137 yards (125 meters) of yardage. The pattern calls for color #232 charcoal as the primary yarn. A contrasting color (CC) of 1 ball in color #233 onyx is used for the neckband and shoulder seaming details.

Knitting needles required include US size 9 (5.5 mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32-inch lengths for working the flat pieces, with a spare needle of the same size reserved for the three-needle bind-off technique. Additional notions include locking stitch markers for tracking armhole placement, stitch holders or waste yarn for securing live stitches during construction, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming.