Valley Yarns Skylark Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Skylark Boatneck Pullover Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Skylark is a modern, intermediate-level knitted pullover sweater featuring a classic boatneck neckline and short sleeves. Designed by Julie Turjoman, this garment showcases beautiful drape and ease, making it versatile enough for both casual wear and dressier occasions like date night. The sweater is available in nine sizes ranging from XS to 4XL, with finished bust measurements from 38¼ inches to 66¼ inches, offering 6 to 8 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Construction Techniques

The Skylark employs a bottom-up, seamless construction worked in the round, which minimizes seaming and creates a polished finished garment. The body is knitted seamlessly from the cast-on edge upward, while the short sleeves are worked downward from drop shoulders, further reducing the amount of seaming required. This technique is particularly efficient for creating a garment with clean lines and minimal visible joins.

Short-row shoulder shaping is incorporated using the Wrap & Turn (W&T) method, though knitters are encouraged to substitute their preferred short-row technique. This shaping method ensures proper fit at the shoulders without the need for traditional seaming.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used throughout the Skylark is an eyelet stitch, which creates narrow eyelet stripes that add a subtle sheer element to the design. This lace-inspired detailing provides visual interest while maintaining the garment's clean, modern aesthetic. The eyelet pattern requires careful attention to gauge, as the stitch pattern appears condensed and short before blocking—blocking is essential to accurately measure row gauge and achieve the intended drape.

Standard knitting abbreviations are used throughout the pattern, including knit (K), purl (P), knit 2 together (K2tog), slip slip knit (ssk), and other common decreases and increases necessary for shaping and stitch pattern execution.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Skylark is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Conway, a breathable blend of 60% Pima cotton and 40% acrylic. This fiber content creates a garment with excellent drape and a soft hand, ideal for the boatneck pullover silhouette. The sample shown is knitted in the colorway Waterfall.

Yarn requirements vary by size, ranging from 7 balls for the smallest size (XS) to 17 balls for the largest size (4XL). Each ball of Conway contains 50 grams and yields 127 yards, allowing knitters to calculate yardage needs based on their chosen size.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern calls for US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles in multiple lengths (16-inch, 24-inch, and 40-inch) along with double-pointed needles for working the seamless construction and sleeves. A smaller needle size—US size 3 (3.25 mm)—is used for ribbing or other sections requiring a tighter gauge.

The target gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows per 4 inches when working the eyelet stitch pattern on the larger needles, measured after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is critical for this design, as the eyelet pattern's appearance and the garment's final dimensions depend on accurate tension.

Additional Materials

Beyond yarn and needles, the Skylark pattern requires standard knitting notions including stitch markers (with at least 2 locking stitch markers for marking key points), stitch holders for temporarily securing stitches, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and any finishing work.