Third Piece The Carina Jumper Knitting Pattern

Third Piece The Carina Knit Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Carina is a seamed knit sweater designed by Third Piece, available in two finished sizes: 46" and 52" bust measurements. This pullover-style jumper features a relaxed, textured construction with a finished back length of approximately 22" to 25" depending on size selection. The sweater is worked in separate flat pieces—front, back, and sleeves—then seamed together for a classic garment construction method.

Techniques Used

Seamed construction: All pieces are worked flat on straight needles and then sewn together, creating clean, finished seams throughout the garment. This traditional technique allows for precise shaping and professional finishing.

Gauge swatching: The pattern emphasizes checking gauge before beginning, as proper tension directly affects the final garment measurements and drape of the textured stitch pattern.

Specialty cast-on method: The pattern uses a double-needle cast-on technique where both needles are held together during casting on, then one needle is removed. This creates a super loose, stretchy cast-on edge that accommodates the fabric's natural stretch characteristics.

Rib finishing: The neckline and cuff areas are finished with 1x1 ribbing worked over 6 rows to create approximately 3" of elastic ribbing that holds the garment snugly at these key points.

Stitches Used

Veil Stitch: The primary stitch pattern throughout the body and sleeves. Veil Stitch is an elongated variation of garter stitch that incorporates a twisted base element. Each stitch involves a complex yarn manipulation sequence: the working yarn is brought forward between the needle points, passed over the left needle, over the right needle, and under the right needle before the stitch is knitted. This creates distinctive twisted strands that drop off to form the textured appearance. The stitch is notable for its significant vertical growth—6 rows can stretch to 6" when the fabric is extended, making row gauge less critical than stitch gauge for this particular design.

1x1 Ribbing: A simple alternating knit and purl pattern used for the finishing bands at the neckline and cuffs, providing elasticity and a fitted edge.

Basic abbreviations used: k (knit), st(s) (stitch/stitches), p2tog (purl 2 together).

Materials

Yarn: Funky Chunky by The 3rd Piece, 100% super soft merino wool. The pattern requires 4 balls total, with each ball containing 200 grams and yielding 82 yards. The merino wool fiber provides softness, breathability, and natural elasticity ideal for the textured Veil Stitch pattern.

Needles: US #13 (9mm) needles for the main body and sleeve fabric, and US #15 (10mm) needles for the ribbed finishing sections. The pattern allows for needle size adjustment to achieve proper gauge, with the specified sizes provided as starting recommendations.

Gauge: 6 stitches by 6 rows equals 4 inches when measured in Veil Stitch on US #13 needles. The pattern notes that row gauge is not critical due to the stitch's natural stretch properties, but stitch gauge should be verified to ensure proper finished bust measurements.

Construction Overview

The Carina is constructed by working two identical body pieces (front and back) and two sleeve pieces separately on US #13 needles in Veil Stitch. Each body piece begins with a long-tail cast-on of 35 or 39 stitches (depending on size) worked loosely, then continues in Veil Stitch until the piece measures 19" to 22" when gently stretched. The needles are then changed to US #15 for 1x1 ribbing worked over 6 rows before binding off. Sleeves follow a similar construction method with smaller stitch counts. Once all pieces are complete, they are seamed together to create the finished garment.