Levina

Levina Pullover by Laura Chau

What is Being Made

Levina is a comfortable and feminine pullover sweater designed by Laura Chau for independent designer brand Cosmic Pluto. This seamless knit garment features an all-over peekaboo lace pattern and is worked from the bottom up in the round with raglan sleeves. The pullover is designed to be worn with zero or positive ease, making it a fitted, flattering silhouette. The sweater includes a lowered ballet neckline at the front and is finished with deep garter stitch cuffs on the long sleeves. Levina is available in multiple sizes ranging from 31.5 inches to 55.5 inches finished bust circumference.

Knitting Techniques

• Seamless construction: The sweater is knit in the round from the bottom up, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, professional finish
• Raglan sleeves: Sleeves are increased gradually using raglan shaping for a comfortable, modern fit
• Short rows: Used to lower the ballet neckline in the front, creating an elegant and flattering neck opening
• All-over lace pattern: The Ostrich Plumes lace design is worked throughout the body and sleeves for a delicate, peekaboo effect
• Garter stitch edging: Deep garter stitch cuffs finish the sleeves with texture and structure

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is Ostrich Plumes lace, which is described as easy to work and quick to knit on larger needles. This lace pattern creates the signature peekaboo effect throughout the garment. Garter stitch is used for the cuff edging on the sleeves, providing a textured, structured finish that contrasts with the delicate lace.

Materials and Yarn

Levina is designed to be knit with aran or worsted weight yarn. The pattern is shown in Jill Draper Makes Stuff Hudson, a 100% superwash merino yarn that is noted for being smooth, soft, and a joy to knit with. Each skein contains 218 yards (199 meters) per 3.5 ounces (100 grams). The photographed sample was worked in the colorway Bing Cherry. Superwash merino is an excellent choice for this design, as it provides the softness and drape needed for the lace pattern while offering easy care and durability.

Difficulty Level

Levina is rated as an intermediate knitting project. While the Ostrich Plumes lace pattern is described as easy to work, the combination of seamless in-the-round construction, raglan shaping, short-row neck shaping, and lace patterning requires solid foundational knitting skills and comfort with intermediate techniques.

Design Credits

Technical editing was provided by Alexandra Virgiel, with graphic design by Vanessa Yap-Einbund.