730 Irena Pullover - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Northfield

730 Irena Pullover - Women's Knitting Pattern

What is Being Made

The 730 Irena Pullover is an elegant women's knit sweater designed by Fiona Ellis. This pullover features a sophisticated graphic eyelet pattern at both the hem and neckline, with the same eyelet motif repeated in panels on the sleeves flanked by mock cables for a dramatic visual effect. The sweater is available in seven sizes, ranging from bust measurements of 34 inches to 52 inches, with finished lengths between 23 and 27 inches, making it suitable for various body types and style preferences.

Knitting Techniques

This intermediate-level pattern employs several key knitting techniques to create its distinctive aesthetic:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is worked from the bottom hem upward, a classic approach that allows for easy fitting adjustments during the knitting process.
• Seamed Assembly: The pattern uses seamed construction, meaning individual pieces are knitted flat and then sewn together, providing structure and durability to the finished garment.
• Worked Flat: Rather than working in the round, the body and sleeves are worked flat on straight needles, then assembled—a traditional method that offers excellent stitch definition.
• Lace Elements: The eyelet pattern creates openwork sections that add elegance and visual interest to the design, particularly at the hem and neckline.

Stitches Used

The 730 Irena Pullover incorporates several fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary fabric stitch, creating the smooth, classic knit surface that forms the base of the sweater. The gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch.
• Seed Stitch: Used for textured sections, seed stitch alternates knit and purl stitches to create a bumpy, tweedy appearance. The pattern includes instructions for both even and odd stitch counts, providing flexibility in application.
• Mock Cable: A three-stitch panel that creates the appearance of a cable without the complexity of traditional cable crossing. This stitch pattern uses a slip-knit-psso decrease on Row 1, a yarn over increase on Row 2, and stockinette stitch on Rows 3-4, repeating across four rows to produce the dramatic cable-like effect flanking the eyelet panels on the sleeves.
• Eyelet Pattern: Created through strategic yarn overs and decreases, the eyelet motif produces the graphic openwork design featured at the hem, neckline, and sleeve panels.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The 730 Irena Pullover is designed to be knitted with Valley Yarns Northfield, a premium DK-weight yarn. This yarn composition includes 70% Merino wool, 20% baby alpaca, and 10% silk, creating a luxurious blend that offers softness, breathability, and subtle sheen. Each skein contains 50 grams and yields 124 yards, with yardage requirements ranging from 9 skeins for the smallest size (34" bust) to 15 skeins for the largest size (52" bust). The pattern features the yarn in Light Gray, a versatile neutral shade that showcases stitch definition.

Needles and Notions

Knitters will require US size 6 (4.00mm) needles for this project. The pattern calls for straight needles for working the body and sleeves flat, plus a 16-inch circular needle in the same size for the neckband. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping, essential tools for managing the multiple stitch patterns and construction details throughout the project.

Pattern Format and Difficulty

The 730 Irena Pullover is offered as a downloadable PDF, making it immediately accessible for digital reference while knitting. Rated as an intermediate-level pattern, it is suitable for knitters with solid foundational skills who are ready to tackle lace elements, mock cables, and seamed garment construction. The combination of techniques and stitch patterns provides an engaging project that builds confidence in intermediate knitting abilities.