String Nora Swancho Jumper Knitting Pattern

String Nora Swancho Striped Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

The Nora Swancho is a knitted sweater designed by Teresa Chorzepa, available in five sizes ranging from Small to 2XL with bust measurements from 39½" to 56½" (100.5cm to 143.5cm). The sweater features a classic pullover construction with a finished length to back neck of 24¾" (63cm), making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various body types and proportions.

Construction Technique

This sweater is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed, worked-flat method. The garment pieces are knitted individually on straight needles and then seamed together, rather than being worked in the round. This traditional construction approach allows for precise shaping and control over the garment's fit and drape. The worked-flat technique means knitters work back and forth in rows rather than continuously in rounds, creating distinct right-side and wrong-side rows that contribute to the pattern structure.

Stitch Patterns and Techniques

The Nora Swancho features two primary stitch patterns that work in harmony:

• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st): This is the main fabric stitch, created by purling on right-side rows and knitting on wrong-side rows. This reverses the traditional stockinette appearance, creating a subtle textured surface with bumps on the public-facing side rather than the smooth V-pattern of standard stockinette.
• 5-Stitch Rib: Used for the neckband, this rib pattern alternates knit and purl stitches in a multiple-of-5 repeat (P2, K1, P1, K1), creating vertical columns of texture that provide stretch and recovery at the neck opening.

The sweater incorporates stripe patterning throughout the design, with a defined stripe sequence that repeats across the body. Decreases are worked using standard knitting decrease techniques including k2tog (knit 2 together) for right-leaning decreases and ssk or ssp (slip, slip, knit or purl) for left-leaning decreases, allowing for shaping that maintains the visual integrity of the stripe pattern.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Nora Swancho is designed to be knitted with String GENEVA, a luxurious yarn blend composed of 90% cashmere and 10% lambswool. This premium fiber combination provides exceptional softness, warmth, and a refined drape. The yarn is supplied in 1.75oz (50g) balls with a yardage of 156 yards (142.5 meters) per ball.

The pattern calls for three coordinating colorways from the String palette:

• Color #517099 (Sand) - Color A: The primary color, requiring 3 (4, 4, 4, 5) balls depending on size
• Color #517103 (Mink) - Color B: A secondary stripe color, requiring 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) balls
• Color #517008 (Lichen) - Color C: An accent stripe color, requiring 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) balls

Needles and Notions

The Nora Swancho requires size 7 (4.5mm) needles. Knitters will need one pair of straight needles in this size for working the flat pieces, plus one 24-inch (60cm) circular needle in the same size for picking up and working the neckband. Additional notions include a stitch marker for tracking pattern repeats and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming the finished pieces together.

Gauge and Fit Considerations

The pattern specifies a gauge of 15½ stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10cm) in Reverse Stockinette Stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished measurements and proper fit. The pattern emphasizes taking time to check gauge before beginning, as even small variations can significantly impact the final garment size. The sweater's shaping is accomplished through strategic decreasing, with different decrease sequences for each size to ensure proper proportions across the range.