String Grace Colorblock Pullover Jumper Knitting Pattern

String Grace Colorblock Pullover

What Is Being Made

The String Grace Colorblock Pullover is a knitted sweater designed by Lidia Karabinech, featuring a sophisticated two-color intarsia colorblock pattern. This pullover is available in four sizes ranging from Small to Extra Large, with finished bust measurements from 32 inches to 44 inches and a length between 22 and 23.5 inches. An optional coordinating cowl neck is included in the pattern, measuring 18 inches in circumference and 8 inches in height.

Techniques Used

This pullover employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the piece as it progresses and adjust length as needed.
• Worked Flat: The back, front, and sleeves are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, which is then seamed together.
• Seamed Assembly: Individual pieces are carefully seamed together to create the finished garment, requiring precision in finishing work.
• Intarsia Colorwork: The pullover features intarsia technique, a method of working with multiple colors to create large blocks of color or complex patterns. Rather than carrying unused yarn across the back of the work, intarsia uses separate bobbins or balls of yarn for each color section, resulting in a smooth, flat fabric with no visible color floats on the reverse side. This technique is followed using provided charts for the back, front, and sleeves.
• Worked in the Round: The optional cowl is worked in the round using circular needles, creating a seamless tubular fabric.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined in strategic ways:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch throughout the pullover, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. This creates the smooth, classic fabric base that showcases the intarsia colorwork.
• 1x1 Ribbing: Used for the cuffs, hem, and neckline finishing. This elastic stitch alternates single knit and purl stitches to create a stretchy, fitted edge that helps the garment retain its shape.
• Decreases: Strategic decreases including k2tog (knit two together) and ssk (slip, slip, knit) are used to shape the armholes and neckline, creating a tailored fit.
• Bind-Off: Used to secure stitches at the armhole edges and complete the garment.

Materials and Gauge

The String Grace Colorblock Pullover is designed to be worked with premium materials:

• Yarn: STRING CLASSICA DK, a luxurious 100% cashmere yarn. Yardage requirements vary by size: 6 to 9 balls of color 400002 ebony (A) for the main color, and 3 to 4 balls of color 100006 pearl (B) for the colorblock contrast. Each ball contains 1.75 ounces and 154 yards of yarn.
• Needles: Size 6 (4mm) straight needles or circular needle (16 inches long) for the main garment pieces. A size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle (16 inches long) is required for the optional cowl, allowing for a slightly looser, more drapey fabric.
• Notions: Stitch holders to temporarily hold stitches during neck shaping, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming pieces together.
• Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows equal 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch using size 6 needles after blocking. Achieving correct gauge is essential for proper fit and is emphasized in the pattern instructions.

Construction Details

The pullover features a structured construction with careful shaping. Armholes are shaped by binding off stitches at the beginning of rows, followed by gradual decreases worked on right-side rows to create a smooth, fitted armhole curve. The neckline is shaped by placing center stitches on a holder and working both shoulder sections simultaneously, with decreases at the neck edge to create a refined neckline opening. The intarsia colorwork, guided by charts, creates the distinctive colorblock pattern across the front, back, and sle