Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Selby Pullover Knitting Pattern

Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Selby Pullover

What Is Being Made

The Selby Pullover is an intermediate-level knitted sweater designed by Pam Grushkin. This pullover is available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 37 inches (94 cm) to 57 inches (145 cm) and lengths from 23½ inches (59.5 cm) to 26 inches (66 cm). The sweater features lace detailing and is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed approach, making it an excellent project for knitters looking to develop their skills with lace patterning and garment assembly.

Techniques Used

The Selby Pullover employs several key knitting techniques that define its construction and aesthetic:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and make length adjustments as needed.
• Worked Flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, which simplifies the lace pattern work and makes stitch counting more straightforward.
• Seamed Assembly: Individual pieces are sewn together using a yarn needle, creating finished seams that contribute to the sweater's polished appearance.
• Lace Patterning: The design incorporates lace stitches that create openwork details, adding visual interest and a delicate quality to the finished garment.
• Three-Needle Bind-Off: This special technique is used to join two pieces together while binding off simultaneously, creating a secure and neat seam. The pattern notes that this can be worked with right sides facing for a hidden seam or with wrong sides facing for a decorative seam on the right side.

Stitches Used

The Selby Pullover utilizes fundamental and decorative knitting stitches:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch used throughout the sweater, created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows when working flat. This creates a smooth, classic fabric with a V-shaped texture on the right side.
• Simple Lace: A lace pattern that incorporates yarn overs and decreases to create openwork sections. The pattern uses standard lace abbreviations and techniques.
• Decreases: K2tog (knit 2 together) and ssk or ssp (slip, slip, knit or purl) are used to shape the garment and create the lace pattern details. These decreases are essential for achieving the proper gauge and creating balanced lace motifs.
• Increases: M1L (make 1 left) and M1R (make 1 right) are used to add stitches while maintaining the integrity of the fabric. These increases are worked by lifting the strand between needles and knitting through the back loop, twisting to prevent holes.

Materials and Specifications

The Selby Pullover is designed to be knitted with S. Charles Fine Yarns FLORA, a premium blend yarn composed of 95% cotton and 5% polyester metallic. This fiber content creates a lightweight, breathable fabric with subtle shimmer, making it ideal for a pullover sweater. The pattern requires 9 to 14 balls depending on size, with each ball containing 0.88 ounces (25 grams) and providing 114 yards (105 meters) of yardage. The featured colorway is #01 pearl, a neutral shade that showcases the lace pattern and metallic sheen.

Knitting is worked on size 5 (3.75 mm) needles, with an additional size 5 needle required for the Three-Needle Bind-Off technique. The pattern specifies that knitters should select needles that allow them to obtain the correct gauge. Additional supplies include stitch holders for managing stitches during construction, a stitch marker for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and a yarn needle for seaming the finished pieces together.

Gauge and Blocking

Proper gauge is critical for the success of the Selby Pullover. The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in both Simple Lace and Stockinette stitch, measured after blocking. Blocking is essential for this project, as it sets the stitches, evens out the fabric, and allows the lace pattern to open up and display its full beauty.