Wildflowerknits Lucy Jumper Knitting Pattern

Wildflowerknits Lucy Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

Lucy is a knitted sweater designed by Kennita Tully, offered in seven sizes ranging from XS to 3X. The finished garment features a classic pullover construction with a crew neckline and set-in armholes. Finished chest measurements span from 33.75 inches (XS) to 57.75 inches (3X), with corresponding length measurements from 21.5 inches to 28.5 inches, accommodating various body types and fit preferences.

Techniques Used

Lucy is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create both structure and visual interest:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is knitted from the cast-on edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and easily adjust length before binding off.
• Worked Flat: The pattern is worked on straight needles in flat pieces rather than in the round, with pieces subsequently seamed together for finishing.
• Seamed Assembly: Back and front pieces, which are identical according to the pattern notes, are seamed together along the sides and shoulders using a tapestry needle.
• Cable Techniques: The signature Cable Drop pattern features decorative cable stitches that are created by slipping stitches to a cable needle, manipulating dropped stitches, and incorporating yarn overs for an intricate textured effect.

Stitches Used

The Lucy sweater employs a carefully selected range of stitches to create its distinctive appearance:

• Cable Drop Pattern: This is the primary stitch pattern, worked over 8 rows. The pattern combines knit and purl stitches with cable maneuvers and intentional dropped stitches that unravel to the cast-on edge, creating a unique vertical textured element.
• Reverse Stockinette: Purl stitches form the background and edge stitches, creating a subtle textured base that showcases the cable details.
• Stockinette Stitch: Knit stitches appear within the cable pattern sections.
• Decreases: Shaping is accomplished using ssp (slip, slip, purl) decreases at the beginning of right-side rows and p2tog (purl two together) decreases at the end of rows, maintaining the reverse stockinette edge stitches throughout shaping.
• Yarn Overs: Incorporated within the Cable Drop pattern to add openness and dimension to the cable motifs.

Materials and Gauge

The Lucy sweater is designed to be worked in Tahki Yarns "Cotton Classic," a mercerized 100% cotton yarn with a yardage of 108 yards per 50-gram hank. Yarn quantities range from 6 hanks for the smallest size (XS) to 11 hanks for the largest size (3X), with the sample photographed knitted in colorway #3752 Dark Celery.

The recommended gauge is 18 stitches and 27 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the Cable Drop pattern using US Size 8 (5mm) knitting needles or the size necessary to achieve the specified gauge. Checking gauge before beginning is emphasized to ensure proper finished measurements.

Additional materials required include a cable needle for manipulating stitches in the cable pattern, stitch markers to track pattern repeats, and a tapestry needle for seaming the finished pieces together.

Skill Level and Pattern Notes

Lucy is rated as an easy skill level pattern, making it accessible to knitters with basic experience. The pattern provides comprehensive notes to guide construction: back and front pieces are identical, edge stitches are maintained in reverse stockinette during all shaping, and decreases follow a specific formula to maintain pattern integrity. The Cable Drop pattern's unraveling dropped stitches create a distinctive design element that extends from the current row back to the cast-on edge, adding visual drama and depth to the finished sweater.