String Thompson Boxy Pullover Jumper Knitting Pattern

String Thompson Boxy Pullover

What Is Being Made

The String Thompson Boxy Pullover is a relaxed-fit knitted sweater designed by Pam Grushkin. This pullover features a contemporary boxy silhouette with finished bust measurements of 38 (42, 45) inches and a length of 24 (24½, 25) inches, offered in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. The sweater is designed to be worn as a comfortable, oversized layering piece with a modern aesthetic.

Knitting Techniques

The Thompson Boxy Pullover is constructed using a bottom-up seamed method, meaning the garment pieces are knitted individually from the bottom edge upward and then joined together with seams. The sweater is worked flat on circular needles, which allows for easier stitch management and even tension control compared to double-pointed needles.

The pattern employs several advanced knitting techniques to shape the garment:

• Three-Needle Bind-Off: Used to join two finished pieces together while simultaneously binding off, creating a secure and professional seam closure. This technique involves holding two pieces with right sides facing each other and binding off while knitting corresponding stitches from each piece together.
• German Short Rows: Applied to shape the shoulders without the traditional wrap-and-turn method. This technique creates smooth shoulder shaping by turning the work at strategic points without wrapping stitches, resulting in a more refined finish.
• Stitch Markers: Both regular and locking stitch markers are used to denote pattern sections and armhole placement, ensuring accurate construction throughout the knitting process.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Thompson Boxy Pullover incorporates two primary stitch patterns:

• Farrow Rib: Used for the ribbed cuff at the lower edge, worked for 3 inches (7.5 cm) to create an elastic, fitted border that contrasts with the boxy body of the sweater.
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The main stitch pattern for the body of the pullover, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. This produces the smooth, classic fabric surface characteristic of refined knitwear.

The pattern also features a reverse stockinette detail worked as [p1, k1] repeats (3 times with a final p1) centered on the back piece, creating a subtle textural element within the stockinette body.

Materials and Gauge

The Thompson Boxy Pullover is designed to be knitted with STRING AMALFI yarn, a luxurious blend containing 14% cashmere, 25% lambswool, 22% silk, and 39% viscose. This fiber composition creates a soft, breathable fabric with excellent drape and warmth. The pattern requires 6 (7, 8) balls of yarn, with each ball weighing 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and containing 180 yards (165 meters).

Two sizes of circular needles are required: a size 6 (4mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches (60 cm) for the ribbed cuff, and a size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle of the same length for the main body. An additional spare size 7 (4.5mm) needle is needed for executing the Three-Needle Bind-Off technique. A yarn needle for weaving in ends and a supply of waste yarn for provisional stitches complete the required materials.

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 27 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when worked in stockinette stitch using the larger needle. Achieving correct gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished measurements and garment fit.