Valley Yarns Tramontana Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Tramontana Pullover Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Tramontana is a colorblock pullover sweater designed by Susan Baron. This knit garment features striking color transitions that create visual interest across the body. The sweater is available in sizes ranging from XS through 5XL, with the sample shown in Size S. Finished bust measurements span from 36 inches to 66 inches with 2–4 inches of positive ease built into the design.

Techniques Used

This sweater employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques that make it suitable for adventurous beginners and beyond:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is knit from the cast-on edge upward, allowing you to try on the garment as you progress and adjust length as needed.
• Seamed Assembly: Individual pieces are knit flat and then seamed together, providing clean, professional-looking joins and making gauge adjustment straightforward.
• Stranded Colorwork: Multiple yarn colors are carried across rows to create the colorblock pattern, requiring attention to tension and technique to maintain even stitches.
• Stripe Patterning: Color changes are introduced in structured stripe sequences, with a specific "Colorwork Transition 2" that occurs simultaneously with armhole shaping, adding complexity to the construction.
• Worked Flat: The body and sleeves are worked on flat needles rather than in the round, simplifying pattern reading and shaping for many knitters.

Stitches Used

The Tramontana relies on fundamental stockinette stitch as its primary fabric, creating a smooth, refined surface that showcases the colorwork. Supporting stitches include:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P): The foundation stitches that create stockinette stitch in the flat construction.
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used for armhole and neckline shaping.
• Slip, Slip, Knit (Ssk): A left-leaning decrease that pairs with K2tog for balanced shaping.
• Make 1 Left (M1L): An increase worked by lifting the strand between stitches, used to shape the garment while maintaining stitch count integrity.
• Wrap and Turn (W&T): A short-row technique that allows for shaping without visible gaps, particularly useful in armhole and neckline construction.

Materials and Yarn

The Tramontana is designed to be knit in Valley Yarns Becket, a premium blend of 50% Superfine Alpaca and 50% Wool. This fiber combination provides softness and coziness while maintaining structure and durability. Each skein yields 141 yards and weighs 100 grams.

The sweater uses three coordinating colors from the Valley Yarns Becket palette:

• Color A – Aubergine (19): 2 to 5 skeins depending on size
• Color B – Lilac (17): 2 to 5 skeins depending on size
• Color C – Natural (01): 2 to 4 skeins depending on size

Total yardage requirements range from approximately 282 yards for the smallest size (XS) to 705 yards for the largest size (5XL).

Needles and Gauge

The pattern calls for two needle sizes to create proper fabric density and structure:

• US 9 (5.5mm) circular needle: 24–32 inches long, used for the main body and sleeves in stockinette stitch
• US 8 (5mm) circular needles: Available in 16-inch and 24–32-inch lengths, used for ribbed edges and cuffs that require a tighter gauge

The target gauge is 16 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger needle size. Achieving accurate gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly given the range of sizes and the seamed construction method.

Additional Materials

Beyond yarn and needles, you will need stitch markers to denote pattern repeats and sh