Twist Collective Thunderbolt Jumper Knitting Pattern

Twist Collective Thunderbolt Sweater

What is Being Made

Thunderbolt is a seamless, worked-in-the-round sweater designed by Cheryl Burke for Twist Collective. This pullover features a fitted silhouette with a circular yoke construction and is available in ten sizes ranging from 36 inches to 58 inches bust circumference (91.5 cm to 147.5 cm). The sweater is intended to be worn with 2 inches of ease and offers length options from 20¾ inches to 25 inches (52.5 cm to 63.5 cm).

Techniques Used

Seamless construction: The body and sleeves of Thunderbolt are worked in the round from the cast-on to the armholes, eliminating the need for seaming. This technique creates a continuous fabric with no side seams, resulting in a smooth, professional finish.

Circular yoke: After the body and sleeves are completed, they are joined together for a circular yoke construction. This method allows for seamless integration of the sleeves into the body and creates a smooth transition at the shoulders.

Short rows: Short-row shaping is employed to raise the back of the neck after the sleeves and body are joined. This technique adds depth and proper fit to the neckline without requiring additional seaming.

Stranded colorwork: The sweater features colorwork patterns presented in chart form. Stranded colorwork involves carrying unused yarn colors inside the fabric while knitting with the active color, creating intricate patterned designs.

Ribbing variations: The design incorporates directional ribbing throughout. The right sleeve and neckline feature left-leaning ribbing, while the left sleeve features right-leaning ribbing. The body showcases mirrored left and right-leaning ribbing, creating a balanced, sophisticated aesthetic.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch used for the main body of the sweater, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric.
• Ribbing: Used for cuffs and waist shaping, with variations in leaning direction (T2B for twisted-back ribbing and T2F for twisted-front ribbing) to create directional texture.
• Decrease stitches: Techniques such as ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit two together) are used to shape the waist and create fitted shaping throughout the sweater.
• Chart-based colorwork stitches: Knit stitches in multiple colors following charted patterns to create the Thunderbolt design.

Materials

Yarn: The pattern calls for Elsebeth Lavold Classic Silky Wool, a luxury blend containing 45% wool, 35% silk, and 20% nylon. This yarn is worked at 191 yards per 1¾ ounces (175 meters per 50 grams). The yardage requirements are 6 to 11 hanks depending on size, with the main color (MC) in shade 04 Charcoal requiring 6 hanks. Contrast colors include 1 hank each of 167 Summer Rose (CC1), 172 Boysenberries (CC2), and 56 Bristol Red (CC3).

Needles: A Size 5 US (3.75 mm) circular needle is used for working the sweater in the round. The circular needle format allows for seamless construction and the ability to work large stitch counts comfortably.