Valley Yarns Harkin Pullover Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Harkin Pullover

What is Being Made

The Harkin Pullover is a seamless, bottom-up knitted pullover designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This advanced beginner garment features decorative wing-shaped eyelets that frame the raglan decreases, creating an elegant visual detail along the yoke. The pullover is available in seven sizes with finished chest measurements ranging from 36 inches to 60 inches, making it suitable for various body sizes.

Knitting Techniques

This pattern employs a seamless construction method using the bottom-up approach, meaning the garment is knitted from the lower edge upward. The design utilizes raglan shaping, a classic yoke construction technique where decreases are worked symmetrically on both sides of the front and back sections to create sloped shoulders.

The yoke is worked in the round using circular needles, beginning with a small cast-on that is progressively increased through strategic yarn overs and decreases. The pattern incorporates stitch markers to track pattern repeats and section boundaries, which is essential for maintaining proper shaping across multiple sections simultaneously. Knitters will transition from shorter 16-inch circular needles to longer 32-inch needles as the piece grows in circumference, a practical technique for managing increasing stitch counts.

The wing-shaped eyelets are created through yarn over increases positioned strategically around the raglan markers, producing decorative holes that frame the structural decreases. The sleeves are completed using double-pointed needles, a traditional method for working small circumferences in the round.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K): The primary stitch forming the stockinette stitch fabric
• Purl stitch: Used in the initial yoke ribbing for texture and edge definition
• Yarn over (yo): Creates the decorative eyelets and increases stitches for the expanding yoke
• Knit 2 together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used for raglan shaping
• Stockinette stitch: The primary fabric texture, created by knitting all rounds

Materials and Gauge

The Harkin Pullover is knitted with Valley Yarns Hatfield, a luxurious yarn composed of 100% Baby Alpaca in the color Cranberry. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 3 skeins for the smallest sizes (36-44 inches) to 5 skeins for the largest size (60 inches). Each skein contains 50 grams and provides 437 yards of yardage, offering a soft and breathable fiber ideal for a pullover.

Needles required include US size 8 (5.00mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32-inch lengths, plus matching double-pointed needles for sleeve completion. The pattern specifies working to a gauge of 5 stitches and 7 rows per 1 inch in stockinette stitch, which is critical for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Additional notions include 4 stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and scrap yarn to serve as stitch holders when temporarily securing stitches during construction transitions, particularly when moving from yoke to body and body to sleeves.