Valley Yarns Totem Pullover Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Totem Pullover

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Totem Pullover is a knitted pullover sweater designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This garment is constructed as a pullover-style top available in six finished measurements ranging from 32" to 52" in width, making it suitable for multiple sizes. The sweater features a distinctive Totem Panel as a focal design element on the front neckline.

Techniques Used

The Totem Pullover employs several advanced knitting techniques to create its structure and design details. The garment is worked flat for the upper sections, including the back and front pieces, which are constructed separately and then joined. The pullover also incorporates worked in the round construction for portions of the garment. A key technique featured throughout is cable work, which adds visual interest and texture to the design. Additionally, the pattern uses wrap and turn (W&T) short-row shaping to create custom fit and shaping in the upper back and front sections, allowing for tailored shoulder and neckline construction.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout most of the Totem Pullover is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric. The pattern incorporates several stitch abbreviations and techniques including knit 2 together (k2tog) for decreasing, slip slip knit (ssk) for left-leaning decreases, and yarn over (yo) for creating decorative eyelets and lace elements. The Totem Panel itself is a 30-stitch panel worked in rows that combines these techniques with cable stitches to create the signature design feature on the front neckline.

Materials and Tools

The Totem Pullover is knitted using Valley Yarns Northfield, a premium yarn blend composed of 70% merino wool, 20% baby alpaca, and 10% silk. This luxurious fiber combination provides warmth, softness, and subtle sheen. The yardage required varies by size, ranging from 8 skeins for the smallest size up to 15 skeins for the largest size, with each skein containing 124 yards and weighing 50 grams. The pattern specifies US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in both 32" and 16" lengths, as well as double-pointed needles in the same size for working smaller circumferences. The recommended gauge is 5 stitches and 7 rows per 1 inch when worked in stockinette stitch, ensuring proper fit and drape of the finished garment.

Pattern Construction Details

The sweater construction begins with an Upper Back piece, followed by Upper Right Front and Upper Left Front sections that are picked up from the cast-on edge of the back. Short-row shaping using wrap and turn techniques is employed in the front sections to create custom shoulder shaping. The neck front features a Totem Panel of 30 stitches that is worked in rows, incorporating the cable and eyelet techniques that define the design. The pattern uses stitch markers to denote section boundaries and includes provisions for placing stitches on holders or spare needles for later assembly, indicating a multi-stage construction process typical of more complex garment patterns.