Valley Yarns Adilah Pullover Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Adilah Pullover

What is Being Made

The Adilah Pullover is an elegant set-in sleeve pullover sweater designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This intermediate-level knitting project features a sophisticated design element: symmetrical, braided cables that weave their way up and around the neckline, creating a distinctive focal point on the garment. The pullover is worked in a classic construction method with finished chest measurements available in six sizes ranging from 36 inches to 60 inches, accommodating a wide range of body types.

Techniques Used

The Adilah Pullover employs several key knitting techniques that define its construction and visual appeal:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is knit from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and make adjustments to length as needed.
• Worked Flat: The body and sleeves are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, then seamed together at the end. This approach is traditional and allows for precise shaping.
• Seamed Assembly: After all pieces are completed, they are sewn together using mattress stitch or similar seaming techniques to create finished seams.
• Cable Knitting: Braided cables are incorporated into the neckline design, requiring the use of a cable needle to create the characteristic twisted rope effect that distinguishes this pullover.
• Set-In Sleeves: The sleeves feature armhole shaping that creates a tailored fit, with bind-offs and decreases worked at the beginning of rows to form the sleeve cap.
• Shoulder Shaping: Structured shoulder shaping is achieved through strategic bind-offs at the beginning of rows, creating a professional, well-fitted garment.

Stitches Used

The Adilah Pullover primarily utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create texture and structure:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The main stitch throughout most of the garment, creating a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side and bumpy texture on the wrong side.
• Ribbing: A 1x2 rib pattern (alternating knit and purl stitches) is worked at the cuffs and neckline. For sizes 36", 48", 56", and 60", the pattern is *P1, k2, p1*, while for sizes 40", 44", and 52", it reverses to *K1, p2, k1*. This ribbing provides elasticity and helps the garment cling to the body at edges.
• Cable Stitches: Braided cables are created by crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle, producing the decorative twisted effect that frames the neckline.

Materials and Gauge

The Adilah Pullover is designed to be worked with specific materials to achieve the intended drape and fit:

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Worthington in color 03 Driftwood is the recommended yarn. This yarn is composed of 50% wool, 25% alpaca, and 25% viscose, providing a blend of warmth, softness, and subtle sheen. Each skein weighs 50 grams and contains 174 yards. Yardage requirements range from 6 skeins for the smallest size (36") to 10 skeins for the largest size (60").
• Needles: US size 4 (3.50mm) straight needles are used for working the flat pieces, while a 16-inch circular needle in the same size is used for the ribbed sections. Knitters should select needles that allow them to achieve the specified gauge.
• Gauge: The pattern specifies a gauge of 5.5 stitches and 7.5 rows per 1 inch when working stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the finished garment to match the intended measurements.
• Additional Materials: Two stitch markers are needed to track pattern repeats and shaping points, and a cable needle is required for working the braided cable details.

Construction Details

The garment construction follows a methodical approach. The back and front panels are each cast on with 100 to 164 stitches depending on size, then worked in stockinette stitch with strategic shaping. Armhole shaping begins with bind-offs at the beginning of