Valley Yarns Ashmere Pullover Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Ashmere Pullover

What is Being Made

The Ashmere Pullover is a classic, unisex crew-neck pullover sweater designed by Amy Herzog. This intermediate-level knitting project features a simple, timeless silhouette suitable for a wide range of body types and sizes. The garment is available in 12 different size options, with bust measurements ranging from 34¼ inches (87 cm) to 66¼ inches (168.5 cm), and corresponding lengths from 23 inches (58.5 cm) to 30½ inches (77.5 cm). The pullover is intended to be worn with 3–6 inches (7.5–15 cm) of ease in the bust and chest area, allowing for comfortable, relaxed wear.

Construction Techniques

The Ashmere Pullover is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed, and worked-flat approach. This method involves knitting individual pieces—the back, front, and sleeves—separately on straight or circular needles before joining them together with seams. The bottom-up construction method allows knitters to try on the garment as they progress and make adjustments to the length as needed.

Fully fashioned shaping is employed throughout the design on the armhole, neck, and sleeve cap edges. Fully fashioned shaping is a refined technique where decreases and increases are worked one or two stitches in from the edge, creating a decorative, professional finish that is both functional and visually appealing. This technique requires precision and is characteristic of higher-quality, designer knitwear.

The pattern notes that knitters may substitute alternative shaping methods if they prefer, making the design flexible for different skill levels and aesthetic preferences.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Ashmere Pullover features several key stitches and stitch patterns:

• Stockinette stitch forms the main body of the sweater, creating a smooth, classic fabric with a flat knit side and a bumpy purl side
• 2x2 ribbing is used for all trim details, including the cuffs, hem, and neckline. This ribbing pattern alternates two knit stitches with two purl stitches, creating vertical columns that provide stretch and recovery
• Fully fashioned decreases using techniques such as ssk (slip, slip, knit), k2tog (knit 2 together), p2tog (purl 2 together), and p2tog-tbl (purl 2 together through back loops) are used for shaping
• Fully fashioned increases using m1L (make 1 left) and m1R (make 1 right) techniques are incorporated for shaping at armholes, neckline, and sleeve caps

Materials and Gauge

The Ashmere Pullover is designed to be knitted with Valley Yarns Peru, a luxurious blend consisting of 84% baby alpaca, 8% merino wool, and 8% nylon. This fiber composition creates a soft, breathable, and durable fabric. The yarn comes in 50-gram balls with 109 yards per ball. The pattern requires between 9 and 21 balls of yarn, depending on the chosen size.

Knitters should use US #7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles, or size needles as needed to obtain the correct gauge. Additionally, a 24-inch circular needle in the main needle size is required for working the neckline. The pattern calls for standard notions including stitch markers, a stitch holder, and a darning needle for seaming and finishing.

The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished measurements and ensuring proper fit.