Valley Yarns Ascending Leaves Pullover Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Ascending Leaves Pullover

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Ascending Leaves Pullover is a lacy knit sweater designed by Ashwini Jambhekar, perfect for cooler spring days. This pullover features elegant leaf-motif lace patterning throughout and is versatile enough to pair with jeans or spring-weight trousers. The garment is available in seven finished sizes ranging from 30.5 inches to 54.25 inches in circumference, with the sample shown in the 33-inch size.

Construction and Techniques

This intermediate-level knitting project employs a combination of worked-in-the-round and worked-flat construction methods. The body is knit from the bottom up in the round to the armhole depth, then divided and worked flat for the front and back pieces. The sleeves are similarly constructed, beginning in the round from the cuff and transitioning to flat working for cap shaping. The finished pieces are seamed together, with sleeve caps seamed into the armhole openings and stitches picked up at the neckline to complete the collar in the round.

The primary design element is lace work, which creates the distinctive ascending leaves pattern. Two lace stitch patterns are used throughout: the Large Leaf Pattern, worked over a multiple of 13 stitches, and the Little Leaf Pattern, worked over 7 stitches. Both patterns are established through yarn overs and decrease stitches including k2tog, ssk, sl1-k2tog-psso, and sl2-k1-p2sso, creating the characteristic openwork of lace knitting.

Stitches Used

The pullover incorporates fundamental knitting stitches combined with lace techniques:

• Stockinette stitch – the base fabric worked in the round and flat sections
• Yarn overs (yo) – creates the openwork characteristic of lace
• Knit two together (k2tog) – a right-leaning decrease
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) – a left-leaning decrease
• Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sl1-k2tog-psso) – a centered double decrease
• Slip 2 stitches together, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over (sl2-k1-p2sso) – another centered double decrease variation

Materials

The Valley Yarns Ascending Leaves Pullover is worked in Valley Yarns Longmeadow, a yarn blend of 60% cotton and 40% microfiber. The sample is worked in color 12 Light Blue. Yardage requirements vary by size: the smallest size requires 8 skeins, while the largest size requires 14 skeins. Each skein contains 50 grams and 117 yards of yarn.

Needles required include a US size 6 (4.00mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches for the main fabric, and a US size 4 (3.50mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches for ribbing and other sections requiring smaller needles. The pattern specifies that the smaller needles should be two sizes smaller than the needle used to obtain gauge. Additional notions include 6 to 9 stitch markers, a yarn needle for finishing, and optionally a crochet hook to assist with picking up stitches at the neckline.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 22 stitches and 31 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the larger needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements. The pullover is available in seven sizes with finished bust measurements of 30.5, 33, 37.75, 42.5, 45, 49.75, and 54.25 inches.