String Susan Pullover Jumper Knitting Pattern

String Susan Pullover

What is Being Made

The String Susan Pullover is a knitted sweater designed by Lidia Karabinech, available in sizes Small through Extra Large. This pullover features a classic crew neckline and is worked flat on straight needles before being seamed together. The finished bust measurements range from 39½ inches (100.5 cm) in size Small to 50 inches (127 cm) in size Extra Large, with a consistent length to shoulder of 22 inches (56 cm) across all sizes.

Techniques Used

The Susan Pullover employs several key knitting techniques to create its finished structure:

• Seamed construction: The garment is worked flat in separate pieces and then seamed together, allowing for precise shaping and a professional finish
• Striped patterning: The design incorporates horizontal stripes created by alternating between two different yarns without cutting the yarn between color changes, maintaining continuity throughout the project
• Short rows: Advanced shaping techniques using short rows are incorporated into the pattern, allowing for custom fit and dimensional shaping in specific areas
• Ribbed edging: The neckband and other finishing edges utilize ribbed stitching for elasticity and a polished appearance

Stitches Used

The Susan Pullover incorporates the following essential stitches:

• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st): The primary stitch used throughout the body of the sweater, created by purling on right-side rows and knitting on wrong-side rows. This creates a textured, bumpy fabric surface that serves as the foundation for the striped pattern
• 2x2 Rib: A versatile ribbed stitch pattern worked over a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2, alternating knit and purl stitches in a 2x2 configuration. This stitch is used for the neckband and provides stretch and recovery to the finished edges

Materials and Gauge

The Susan Pullover requires two distinct yarns to create its signature striped effect. The primary yarn is String DOLCETTO DK, a luxury blend composed of 30% cashmere and 70% merino wool. This yarn is available in color 100002 pearl and is yardage-intensive, requiring 5 balls for size Small, 5 balls for size Medium, 6 balls for size Large, and 7 balls for size Extra Large. Each ball contains 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and yields 206 yards (187 meters).

The secondary yarn for striping is Sesia FLORA PAILLETTES, a lightweight blend of 95% cotton and 5% polyester that provides textural contrast. This yarn is available in color 0280 natural and requires 4 balls for size Small, 5 balls for size Medium, 6 balls for size Large, and 6 balls for size Extra Large. Each ball contains 0.88 ounces (25 grams) and provides 114 yards (105 meters).

The pattern calls for size 6 (4.0mm) needles as the primary needle size and size 5 (3.75mm) needles for ribbed sections. A size 6 (4mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches (40cm) is required for the neckband. Additional supplies include stitch markers and a yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends.

The recommended gauge is 19 stitches and 28 rows equals 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Reverse Stockinette Stitch using the larger size needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements.

Striped Pattern Construction

The striped pattern alternates between two yarn configurations: Rows 1 through 4 are worked in Reverse Stockinette Stitch using Yarn B (Sesia FLORA PAILLETTES) held as 2 strands together, followed by Rows 5 and 6 worked in Reverse Stockinette Stitch using Yarn A (String DOLCETTO DK). This creates a balanced, repeating stripe sequence throughout the body of the sweater while maintaining yarn continuity by not cutting between color changes.