Mainer

Mainer Knit Sweater by Alicia Plummer

What Is Being Made

The Mainer is a knitted pullover sweater designed by independent designer Alicia Plummer. This garment is a classic crew-neck pullover available in seven different sizes, with finished bust circumferences ranging from 33 inches to 59 inches (82.5 cm to 147.5 cm), making it suitable for a wide range of body types. The sweater is designed to be worn with 3 to 4 inches of positive ease at the full bust, providing a comfortable, relaxed fit rather than a close-fitting silhouette.

Construction Techniques

The Mainer employs a hybrid construction method that combines flat knitting with circular knitting. The sweater is worked flat initially, beginning with the body and incorporating neck shaping as the piece develops. Once the neck shaping is completed, the work is joined in the round to continue construction using circular needles. This technique allows for seamless construction in the round while maintaining the control and ease of flat knitting during the early shaping stages.

The sweater features raglan shaping, a classic construction method where diagonal lines of decreases run from the underarms toward the neckline on both the front and back pieces, while the sleeves are shaped simultaneously. During the initial raglan shaping phase, stitch counts are tracked and presented in the pattern as front/sleeve/back/sleeve/front to help knitters monitor their progress across the multiple shaping zones.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The primary stitch used in the Mainer is stockinette stitch, which creates the classic smooth, V-textured fabric characteristic of many traditional sweaters. Stockinette stitch is formed by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side when working flat, or by knitting every round when working in the round. This fundamental stitch is ideal for showcasing the qualities of the yarn and is appropriate for beginner-level knitters.

The pattern requires the use of stitch markers to denote pattern repeats and shaping points, and knitters may use either a stitch holder or scrap yarn to temporarily hold stitches during construction—typically at the underarms or neckline before those sections are rejoined. The finishing process involves weaving in ends with a darning needle to secure all yarn tails neatly into the finished fabric.

Yarn and Materials

The Mainer is designed to be knitted using worsted weight yarn, which is a medium-weight yarn suitable for creating fabric with good drape and structure. The pattern sample shown in the honey colorway was created using Hinterland Range yarn, a blend of 50% Rambouillet wool and 50% alpaca. This fiber combination offers the warmth and elasticity of wool paired with the softness and luster of alpaca, creating a luxurious hand feel.

Each skein of Hinterland Range yarn contains 198 yards (181 meters) and weighs 112 grams. Depending on the finished size, the Mainer requires between 4 and 7 skeins of yarn, totaling 725 to 1,325 yards depending on the size being knitted. This yardage range accommodates the seven available sizes, with smaller sizes requiring 4 to 5 skeins and larger sizes requiring 6 to 7 skeins.

Needles and Tools

Construction of the Mainer requires two different needle sizes to create proper gauge and fabric texture. The larger needles are US 8/5.0 mm circular needles, which should be at least 32 inches long to accommodate the full width of the sweater body during flat and circular knitting. The smaller needles are US 6/4.0 mm circular needles, also 32 inches or longer, used for ribbed sections that require a tighter gauge to create elasticity and structure.

For working the sleeves in the round, knitters may use either coordinating double-pointed needles (DPNs) or the magic loop method with circular needles, depending on personal preference. The magic loop technique allows knitters to work small circumferences using a single long circular needle by creating a loop in the cable, while traditional DPNs are shorter needles with points on both ends designed specifically for small circular sections.

Gauge

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 16 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters) when measured in stockinette stitch on the larger US 8/5.0 mm needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the finished sweater to