Valley Yarns Lida Pullover Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Lida Pullover

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Lida Pullover is a seamless, bottom-up knitted sweater designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This intermediate-level pullover features a sophisticated blend of decorative cables and lace motifs adorning the front, while the back remains in classic stockinette stitch. The garment is constructed with flattering set-in sleeves that are worked contiguously with the body, eliminating the need for seaming. Available in seven size options ranging from 30-32" to 54-56" chest to fit, with finished chest measurements from 36" to 60".

Techniques Used

The Lida Pullover employs several advanced knitting techniques that create both visual interest and structural integrity:

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is knitted from the lower body upward, beginning with a ribbed hem and progressing through the body and sleeves
• Worked in the round: Circular needles are used throughout to create a seamless garment, eliminating side seams and creating a smooth, professional finish
• Cables: Luscious cable patterns are featured prominently on the front of the sweater, created using a cable needle to cross stitches over one another for dimensional texture
• Lace: Decorative lace elements are incorporated into the front pattern through yarn overs and decreases, creating openwork designs that add elegance and visual movement
• Set-in sleeves worked contiguously: Rather than being knitted separately and sewn on, the sleeves are worked as part of the continuous body construction, ensuring seamless integration and superior fit

Stitches Used

The Lida Pullover utilizes a variety of fundamental and decorative knitting stitches:

• Knit (k) and purl (p) stitches: Form the foundation of the stockinette stitch body and ribbed edging
• Ribbing (k1, p1): Creates the stretchy, fitted 2-inch hem at the lower body
• Yarn overs (yo): Create the openwork lace elements on the front panel
• Decreases: Including k2tog (knit two together), ssk (slip, slip, knit), and sl1-k2tog-psso (slip one, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over), which shape the garment and pair with yarn overs to form lace patterns
• Kfb (knit front and back): Used for increases where shaping is needed
• Cable crosses: Created by slipping stitches onto a cable needle, working subsequent stitches, then working the held stitches to create twisted rope-like textures

Materials and Gauge

The Lida Pullover is crafted using a luxurious two-yarn combination held together throughout construction. Valley Yarns Pocumtuck in color 01 Putty serves as the primary yarn, with quantities ranging from 6 to 12 skeins depending on size. Valley Yarns Southampton in color 014 Natural is held together with the Pocumtuck, requiring 4 to 7 skeins depending on size. This pairing creates a fabric with impeccable softness, loft, and luster, combining the luxurious qualities of cashmere with the structural benefits of the Southampton yarn.

Knitting is worked on US size 10 (6.00mm) circular needles in both 32-inch and 40-inch lengths, along with double-pointed needles of the same size for sleeve shaping. A cable needle is essential for executing the cable patterns, and stitch markers in 2-3 different colors help organize pattern sections and track increases throughout construction.

The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 16 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch when working with one strand of Pocumtuck held together with one strand of Southampton. Maintaining this gauge is critical for achieving the correct finished measurements and proper fit of the set-in sleeves.