Valley Yarns New Hope Pullover Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns New Hope Pullover

What is Being Made

The New Hope Pullover is an A-line sweater with set-in sleeves, designed by Nadya Stallings. This pullover features a flattering silhouette that widens toward the hem and is available in six sizes with finished chest measurements ranging from 33 inches to 53 inches, intended to be worn with 1 to 1.5 inches of positive ease for comfortable wear.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to create its finished structure. The pullover is knit in pieces, meaning the front, back, and sleeves are worked separately and then seamed together for firmness and durability. The neckline is shaped using short rows, a technique that creates gradual shaping without adding bulk, and is finished with a ribbed neck band for a polished edge. Set-in sleeves are incorporated through careful armhole shaping with strategic bind-offs and decreases worked at the beginning of rows and on right-side rows.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern throughout the New Hope Pullover is Cable Stitch, which creates textured, three-dimensional cables that run vertically through the fabric. The pattern is established using Chart A and maintained consistently across the body pieces. The ribbed neck band uses traditional ribbing, which provides elasticity and helps the neckline retain its shape. Decreases are executed using ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit two together) techniques for seamless shaping at the armholes and shoulders.

Materials

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Goshen in color 01 White, a luxurious blend of 48% Peruvian Cotton, 46% Bamboo, and 6% Silk. Yardage requirements range from 1,260 yards for the smallest size to 1,890 yards for the largest size, with each skein providing 105 yards at 50 grams.
• Needles: US size 6 (4.00mm) circular needles, or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge of 5.25 stitches and 6 rows per inch in Cable Stitch.

Construction Details

The back piece begins with a cast-on of 99 to 149 stitches depending on size, worked flat in rows rather than in the round. After establishing the Cable Stitch pattern with a set-up row, the back is worked even until armhole shaping begins. Armhole shaping involves multiple rounds of bind-offs followed by single-stitch decreases on right-side rows, reducing the stitch count to 63 to 93 stitches. The back continues even in pattern until the armhole measures 7 to 9.25 inches, at which point shoulder shaping is worked by binding off groups of stitches, with the remaining stitches placed on scrap yarn for the neckline. The front is worked identically to the back through the armhole shaping stage, then continues with additional decreases to create the A-line shaping before the neckline is addressed with short-row shaping.