Valley Yarns Bacopa Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Bacopa Striped Pullover Sweater

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Bacopa is a luxurious striped pullover sweater designed by Lidia Karabinech. This garment is a versatile piece suitable for everyday wear with jeans or dressing up with skirts and dress slacks. The sweater is available in eight sizes ranging from XS to 4XL, with finished bust measurements from 34½ inches to 61½ inches and lengths from 22 inches to 28½ inches. The design features a classic pullover construction with a crew neckline and is worked primarily in stockinette stitch with contrasting stripes throughout.

Techniques and Construction Methods

The Bacopa sweater employs multiple knitting techniques to create its finished structure. The garment is worked flat on circular needles using the Long-Tail Cast-On Method to establish the foundation stitches. The construction follows a bottom-up approach, meaning the knitter begins at the lower edge and works upward toward the shoulders and neckline. The sweater is seamed together after individual pieces are completed, which is a traditional method for garments worked in separate sections. The design incorporates striped patterning throughout, created by alternating between the main color (MC) and contrasting color (CC) while maintaining stockinette stitch. Additionally, the sweater includes worked-in-the-round elements, particularly for finishing details such as necklines and cuffs using circular needles.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used in the Valley Yarns Bacopa is stockinette stitch, which creates the smooth, classic fabric that showcases the yarn's luxurious qualities. The pattern begins with a 2x2 ribbing at the lower edge, which provides elasticity and structure to the hem. The ribbing is worked by alternating knit and purl stitches in a repeating pattern of two knits followed by two purls. This ribbed cuff helps the sweater maintain its shape and prevents rolling at the edges. The striped pattern is achieved by changing yarn colors while continuing to work in stockinette stitch, creating horizontal stripes of alternating colors throughout the body of the sweater.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Valley Yarns Bacopa is designed to be knit in Valley Yarns Toby, a sumptuous blend of premium fibers. The yarn composition is 83% mako cotton, 10% mulberry silk, and 7% cashmere, creating a luxurious fabric that feels exceptional against the skin. Each ball of Valley Yarns Toby contains 50 grams and provides 109 yards of yardage. The pattern requires two colors of this yarn: the main color (MC) in Grey (Color 03) and the contrasting color (CC) in Silver (Color 02). Yarn requirements vary by size, with smaller sizes requiring 4 balls of the main color and 4 balls of the contrasting color, while larger sizes (4XL) require 10 balls of the main color and 8 balls of the contrasting color.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern calls for US 6 (4.0mm) circular needles in two lengths: a 16-inch needle for working smaller circumferences and a 24-32 inch needle for larger sections. Circular needles are used even though the garment is worked flat, allowing the knitter to accommodate the increasing number of stitches as the sweater expands. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 27 rows equals 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. Knitters should swatch before beginning to ensure their needle size produces the correct gauge.

Additional Materials

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires several notions to complete the sweater successfully. These include stitch markers to denote pattern repeats and shaping points, stitch holders to temporarily hold stitches for the shoulders and neckline, locking stitch markers for securing specific stitches during construction, and a tapestry needle for seaming pieces together and weaving in yarn ends.

Difficulty Level

The Valley Yarns Bacopa is rated as Adventurous Beginner difficulty, making it an excellent project for knitters who have mastered fundamental techniques and are ready to tackle more complex garment construction. This difficulty level indicates that while the basic stitches are straightforward, the project involves multiple techniques including shaping, color changes, and seaming that require attention to detail