String Kim Positive/Negative Pullover Knitting Pattern

String Kim Positive/Negative Pullover

What Is Being Made

The String Kim Positive/Negative Pullover is a seamless, crew-neck pullover sweater designed by Joan Forgione. This garment is available in five sizes ranging from Small to 2X, with finished bust measurements from 36 inches (91.5 cm) to 52 inches (132 cm) and length to shoulder measurements from 30¼ inches (77 cm) to 33 inches (84 cm). The design features a striking color-blocking aesthetic created through the use of two coordinating yarn colors in a positive/negative pattern.

Techniques Used

This pullover is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create both its structure and visual interest:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is knitted from the bottom upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and easily adjust length if needed.
• Seamless, Worked-in-the-Round: The entire garment is worked in the round using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming. This technique creates a continuous fabric with no interruptions, resulting in a polished, professional finish.
• Sleeve Increases: Sleeves are shaped with strategic increases (M1R and M1L increases) worked at regular intervals to create a comfortable, well-fitted arm opening. The frequency of increases varies by size to accommodate different proportions.
• Set-In Sleeves: The sleeves are joined to the body after being completed separately, with underarm stitches placed on waste yarn before joining all pieces together on a single circular needle.

Stitches Used

The Kim Positive/Negative Pullover employs two primary stitch patterns:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The main stitch throughout the sweater, created by knitting every round. This smooth, classic stitch forms the foundation of the garment and showcases the yarn's color-blocking effect.
• Pennant Stitch: A decorative stitch pattern used as an accent, worked over 16 rounds. The Pennant Stitch is created by alternating rounds of knit stitches with slip stitch rows (slip 3 stitches with yarn in front, purl 2 stitches), creating a textured, geometric pattern that adds visual interest to the design.

Materials and Yarn

The String Kim Positive/Negative Pullover is designed to be knitted with premium yarn and appropriately sized needles:

• Yarn: STRING OSLO, a luxurious blend of 70% Merino wool and 30% cashmere. The pattern calls for 5 to 7 balls of the main color (MC) in color 726960 black/white, depending on size, and 2 to 4 balls of the contrasting color (CC) in color 724906 white/black. Each ball weighs 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and contains 155 yards (142.5 meters).
• Needles: Size 7 (4.5mm) circular needles in three lengths—32 inches (80 cm), 24 inches (60 cm), and 16 inches (40 cm)—to accommodate different sections of the sweater as stitch counts decrease. A set of size 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles is also required for working the sleeves in the round, along with a spare size 7 (4.5mm) needle for holding stitches.
• Additional Supplies: Removable stitch markers to denote pattern repeats and construction points, waste yarn for holding stitches during assembly, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches and 28 rounds equal 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch after 2 stitches have been increased. Knitters are advised to take time to check gauge before beginning, as accurate gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The completed sweater should be blocked to set the stitches and even out the fabric.