Valley Yarns Beith Pullover Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Beith Pullover

What is Being Made

The Beith Pullover is a bottom-up knitted pullover sweater designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This intermediate-level garment features delicate, twisted-stitch cables on the front panel that create a wood grain aesthetic. The pullover is constructed with contiguous set-in sleeves and comes in eight finished sizes ranging from 32 inches to 56 inches in width, accommodating a broad range of body measurements.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the sweater is knit starting from the lower body and working upward toward the shoulders and neckline. The garment features set-in sleeves that are worked contiguously, creating a seamless integration between the sleeve cap and armhole. Waist shaping is incorporated through strategic decreases worked every eighth round, creating a fitted silhouette. The design includes twisted ribbing at the lower edge and sleeve cuffs for a refined finish.

Stitches and Cable Work

The primary stitch used throughout the body is Stockinette Stitch (St st), which provides a smooth, classic knit fabric. The signature design element is the cable panel featuring twisted-stitch cables that measure 2¼ inches wide across an 18-stitch repeat. The cables create a wood grain pattern on the front of the sweater. Twisted Ribbing, worked as alternating knit-through-back-loop stitches and purl stitches, creates the textured ribbed edges at the waist and sleeves. The pattern allows for cable-needle-free cabling techniques if preferred, offering flexibility in execution.

Materials and Specifications

The Beith Pullover is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Superwash DK, a yarn composed of 100% Extrafine Merino Superwash. Yardage requirements vary by size: the smallest size (32 inches) requires 9 balls, while the largest size (56 inches) requires 18 balls. Each ball contains 50 grams and 137 yards of yarn. The recommended color is Sand.

Needles required include US size 4 (3.50mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32 to 40-inch lengths depending on the size being knit, as well as double-pointed needles of the same size for sleeve construction. The pattern calls for a gauge of 6 stitches and 8 rows per 1 inch in Stockinette Stitch. Additional materials include 4 stitch markers and an optional cable needle, though knitters may substitute their preferred cable-needle-free cabling method.

Construction Details

The lower body is cast on in sections using circular needles, with separate stitch counts for the back, left front, cable panel, and right front sections. Twisted Ribbing is worked for ½ inch before switching to Stockinette Stitch. The cable pattern is maintained on the front panel throughout the body. Waist shaping decreases are worked every eighth round for four repetitions to create a fitted waist.

Sleeves are worked flat on double-pointed needles, beginning with a cast-on of 54 stitches and Twisted Ribbing for ½ inch. Sleeve increases are worked at the beginning and end of rounds at intervals that vary by size (every 14th, 10th, 8th, 6th, 4th, or 4th round depending on the finished size), resulting in final sleeve stitch counts ranging from 72 to 108 stitches. Sleeves are worked to a length of 16½ inches or to desired length before being joined to the body.