Valley Yarns Big Sky Pullover Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Big Sky Pullover

What is Being Made

The Big Sky Pullover is a top-down seamless knit sweater designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This intermediate-level pullover features a distinctive funnel neck with bright, cheerful stripes throughout the yoke and body. The garment is worked in the round from the collar down, creating a seamless construction that eliminates the need for seaming. The contrasting color on the rolled hems adds a special decorative touch to this cold-weather pullover.

Finished Sizes and Fit

The Big Sky Pullover is available in six finished sizes: 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, and 52 inches. This range accommodates a variety of body measurements, from petite to plus-size fits.

Techniques Used

This pullover employs several key knitting techniques:

• Top-down construction: The sweater is knit from the collar downward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments as you work
• Worked in the round: Using circular needles, the entire garment is knit circularly, creating a seamless fabric with no side seams
• Raglan shaping: Increases are worked at regular intervals to create the characteristic raglan sleeve cap, with increases occurring in four sections (back, front, and two sleeves)
• Stripe pattern: The yoke features a repeating stripe pattern using multiple colors that adds visual interest and texture
• Rolled hem: The collar is worked in a contrasting color to create a decorative rolled edge

Stitches Used

The Big Sky Pullover uses fundamental knitting stitches suitable for intermediate knitters:

• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch throughout the body and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Knit stitch: Used for the majority of the construction
• Purl stitch: Used selectively, including one purl round between the collar and yoke
• Make one increase (m1): Used for the raglan shaping to increase stitches invisibly within the fabric
• Slip stitch: Used to move stitches and place markers without disrupting the pattern

Materials and Yarn

The Big Sky Pullover is designed to showcase Valley Yarns Stockbridge, a luxury blend yarn composed of 50% Superfine Alpaca and 50% Wool. This fiber combination provides warmth, softness, and breathability ideal for a cold-weather pullover. The yarn is available in 50-gram skeins, each containing 109 yards.

Yardage requirements vary by size: 5 skeins each of Color A (Blue Mist) and Color B (Natural) are needed for sizes 32, 36, and 40 inches; 6 skeins each for size 40 inches; 7 skeins each for size 44 inches; 8 skeins each for size 48 inches; and 9 skeins each for size 52 inches. One additional skein of Color C (Yellow) is optional for the contrasting collar. This color scheme creates a striking visual effect with the blue and natural tones forming the main body and stripes.

Needles and Notions

The pattern calls for US size 5 (3.75mm) circular needles in 16-inch length for the ribbed collar section, which creates a tighter gauge for a snug neckline. US size 7 (4.50mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32-inch lengths are used for the body and sleeves, with double-pointed needles also available as an alternative for working smaller circumferences in the round.

Additional notions include four stitch markers for tracking the raglan increase points and section divisions, and scrap yarn for holding sleeve stitches while the body is completed.

Gauge and Construction Details

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the larger US size 7 needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit across all sizes.

Construction begins with a 1.5-inch collar worked in the round on smaller needles,