Valley Yarns Breezeway Pullover Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Breezeway Pullover: Knitted Lightweight Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Breezeway Pullover is a lightweight knitted pullover sweater designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This garment is engineered as a sheer, breezy layering piece suitable for multi-season wear. The pattern offers six finished chest sizes ranging from 43 inches to 72 inches, accommodating a wide range of body measurements from 32 inches to 56 inches.

Knitting Techniques

This pullover is constructed using bottom-up seamed construction, meaning the body pieces are knitted from the cast-on edge upward and then sewn together. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, which allows for easier stitch manipulation and shaping. The design includes a decorative eyelet detail created through a specialized stitch sequence that produces an openwork pattern, contributing to the sweater's characteristic breeziness and visual interest.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The primary stitch used throughout the body is Stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric with a flat appearance on the right side. The eyelet embellishment is created using the following sequence:

• Yarn overs (yo): These create deliberate holes in the fabric by wrapping yarn around the needle without working a stitch
• Slip stitch (sl1): A single stitch is slipped as if to purl with yarn held in back
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso): The slipped stitch is passed over the following yarn over and knit stitch to create a decrease that pairs with the yarn over for a balanced eyelet

The pattern also incorporates garter stitch (knit every row) for the initial 5 rows at the cast-on edge and for 2 rows before the eyelet detail, providing structure and preventing curling. A sewn bind-off method is recommended for the final edge to create maximum flexibility.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Breezeway Pullover is knitted with Valley Yarns Hatfield, a luxury yarn composed of 100% baby alpaca. This fiber choice contributes to the sweater's characteristic sheerness and breathability. Yardage requirements vary by size: 2 skeins are needed for the two smallest sizes, 3 skeins for the next two sizes, and 4 skeins for the largest sizes. Each skein contains 437 yards and weighs 50 grams.

Knitting needles required are US size 7 (4.50mm) or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge. The pattern emphasizes that needle size may be adjusted to match individual gauge, as achieving proper gauge is essential for correct fit across the six size options.

Gauge and Sizing Information

The target gauge is approximately 5 stitches and 7 rows per 1 inch after blocking. This relatively loose gauge contributes to the garment's fluid drape and openness. Body pieces are constructed by casting on between 108 and 180 stitches depending on desired size, and are worked to a length of 22 to 25 inches before the eyelet detail and bind-off.

Construction Details

Each of the two body pieces is knitted separately and then seamed together. The shoulders are joined by sewing the bound-off edges, with a 10-inch opening deliberately left open at the center for the neckline. Side seams are sewn while leaving the upper 8.5 to 11.5 inches open (depending on size) to create the armholes. This seamed construction method allows for precise shaping and professional finishing.

Finishing Considerations

Due to the sheer nature of the baby alpaca fabric, the pattern recommends starting new yarn balls at the beginning or end of rows rather than mid-row, as this placement makes it easier to hide yarn ends within the seams. All pieces are blocked to desired dimensions before assembly, which helps eliminate edge curling and ensures accurate sizing. Loose ends are woven into the side or shoulder seams for a clean, professional appearance.

Difficulty Level

The Breezeway Pullover is rated as advanced beginner difficulty. While the primary Stockinette stitch is fundamental, the eyelet pattern requires understanding yarn overs and decreases, and the seamed construction demands