Tulip

Tulip Sweater by Melody Hoffmann

What is Being Made

The Tulip is a knitted sweater design available in both cropped and long versions. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a fitted pullover sweater with finished bust circumferences ranging from 34.6 inches to 55.4 inches (87 cm to 140.7 cm), designed to be worn with negative ease between -1" and +1" (-2.5 cm and +2.5 cm) for a close, tailored fit.

Yarn Materials

The Tulip sweater uses a sophisticated yarn combination held together as one strand throughout the project. The blend consists of two strands of Nutiden (100g plates) combined with one strand of silk mohair (70% mohair and 30% silk, 25g per 225 meters). This three-ply construction creates a luxurious, textured fabric with both warmth and drape.

Yarn quantities vary by size and version:

• Cropped Version: 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, or 7 plates of Nutiden by Honer och Eir, paired with 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, or 7 balls of Knitting for Olive's Silk Mohair
• Long Version: 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, or 8 plates of Nutiden, paired with 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, or 7 balls of Knitting for Olive's Silk Mohair

For yarn substitution, Plötulopi held double achieves a gauge quite close to the cropped rust-colored version, though knitters should verify their gauge before beginning. Note that Nutiden comes in different yarn weights depending on colorway selection.

Needles and Gauge

The Tulip sweater requires two needle sizes for different sections of the garment:

• US 6 (4mm) needles for ribbing sections
• US 8 (5mm) needles for the body

The pattern specifies a gauge of 17 stitches and 26 rows equaling 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, knit in the round with the larger needles and after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the sweater to fit within the designed ease specifications.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Tulip employs fundamental knitting techniques suited to intermediate-level crafters. The sweater is constructed primarily in stockinette stitch, the most common knit fabric, which creates a smooth, classic appearance. Ribbing sections, worked with the smaller needles, provide structure and elasticity at the cuffs and hem.

The sweater is knit in the round, a technique that creates seamless fabric and eliminates the need for seaming most of the garment. This method is worked on circular needles and produces a continuous spiral of knit rows, resulting in a polished, professional finish.

The pattern accommodates nine different sizes, suggesting that shaping techniques such as increases and decreases are incorporated to create the fitted silhouette across the range of finished bust measurements.