Women's Knitted Sweater in Novita Nalle - 10 - Downloadable PDF

Women's Knitted Sweater in Novita Nalle – Pattern Summary

This pattern by designer Lea Petäjä for Novita produces a women's pullover sweater knitted seamlessly in the round from the neckline down to the hem. The design is classified as advanced difficulty and is available as a free downloadable PDF. It is worked in Novita Nalle yarn in the colourway Pomegranate (533), a DK weight yarn, making it a satisfying project for experienced knitters looking to explore top-down seamless construction with integrated textural detailing.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's fitted pullover sweater with long sleeves. It features a structured body with side panels of decorative ribbing and a predominantly smooth fabric body. The sweater is designed to fit a range of sizes from XS through XXL, with finished body circumferences spanning 84 cm to 124 cm (approximately 33 to 48¾ inches). The back length at the midpoint ranges from 59 cm to 69 cm (23¼ to 27¼ inches), and the inner sleeve length ranges from 47 cm to 51 cm (18½ to 20 inches).

Construction Method

One of the most notable features of this pattern is its top-down, seamless construction. Knitting begins at the neckline and progresses downward through the yoke, body, and sleeves without any seaming required. This method allows knitters to try on the garment as they go and adjust fit in real time. The sleeves are worked by placing held stitches back onto needles and picking up additional stitches from the armhole cast-on, then working downward in the round — a technique that eliminates the need for sewing sleeve seams.

Stitch Patterns Used

• Stockinette stitch in the round: The main fabric of the body and sleeves is worked by knitting every round, producing a smooth, classic knit surface on the right side.
• Reverse stockinette stitch in the round: Worked by purling every round, this stitch creates a bumpy, textured surface and is used as a design element within the sweater. The stated gauge of 22 stitches and 31 rows per 10 cm is measured in reverse stockinette stitch, indicating its prominence in the design.
• Ribbing in the round: A *p3, k2* rib repeat is used at the side panels and at the hem. The side ribbing is introduced partway through the body and follows a charted sequence across multiple rows (rows 1 through 20 of the chart), adding visual structure and a fitted silhouette at the sides. The hem is finished with 6 cm of ribbing worked across all stitches and bound off in pattern.

Techniques Used

• Top-down seamless knitting in the round — the entire sweater is constructed from neckline to hem without seams
• Charted ribbing panels — side panels follow a written chart with specific stitch sections (labelled A through J in the pattern) that vary by size, requiring careful chart reading
• Stitch holds and sleeve pick-up — sleeve stitches are placed on hold during body construction, then picked up along with additional armhole stitches to work the sleeves downward in the round
• In-round decreases — even decreases are worked at the end of the hem section to adjust stitch counts before the final ribbing
• Bind off in pattern — the hem ribbing is cast off maintaining the established rib pattern for a neat, flexible edge

Materials Required

• Yarn: Novita Nalle in Pomegranate (533), a DK weight yarn. Quantities range from 350 g for XS/S up to 550 g for XXL, with intermediate sizes requiring 400 g (M) or 450–500 g (L/XL).
• Needles: Novita circular needles in 3½ mm (UK