Mulan Pullover in Adriafil Uno A Ritorto 5 - Downloadable PDF

Mulan Pullover Knitting Pattern in Adriafil Uno A Ritorto 5 — Free Downloadable PDF

The Mulan Pullover is a classic hand-knitted women's pullover featuring elegant two-colour striping and integrated short sleeves, worked in the fine Adriafil Uno A Ritorto 5 yarn. This free downloadable PDF pattern delivers a beautifully structured garment with a shaped silhouette, a front button opening, and a carefully graduated neckline — making it an excellent project for confident beginner and intermediate knitters alike.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's pullover sweater worked in two separate pieces — a back and a front — which are then seamed together. The design features integrated short sleeves that are shaped directly from the body rather than knitted separately and sewn on, giving the garment a clean, seamless shoulder line. A centre front button opening is worked by dividing the front into two halves, and the neckline is shaped with a series of graduated decreases for a neat, tailored finish. Five transparent star-shaped buttons are used to fasten the opening, adding a delicate decorative detail. The pattern is sized for a size 44, with adjustments provided for sizes 42 and 46.

Colour Design and Striping

One of the most distinctive features of the Mulan Pullover is its two-colour stripe sequence, which creates a bold yet harmonious visual rhythm across the body. The main colour is terracotta brown (shade no. 97), while the contrast colour is violet (shade no. 89), both in Adriafil Uno A Ritorto 5. The stripe sequence begins with wider bands — 4 rows violet alternating with 10 rows terracotta brown, repeated five times — before transitioning to narrower bands of 2 rows violet and 6 rows terracotta brown, repeated eight times, creating a subtle visual tapering effect as the garment progresses. This graduated stripe rhythm gives the pullover a sophisticated, artisan quality that sets it apart from simple single-colour knitwear.

Techniques Used

• Two-colour stripe knitting: Yarn is changed at regular intervals across the body, requiring neat management of yarn ends and consistent tension when rejoining colours.
• Side shaping with decreases and increases: The silhouette is carefully shaped by decreasing 1 stitch at each end every 10 rows seven times to create a waist, then increasing 1 stitch at each end every 8 rows five times to restore width at the hip and bust.
• Integrated sleeve shaping: Rather than knitting sleeves separately, stitches are cast on at each end of the body piece to form the short sleeves directly, a technique that creates a smooth, structured shoulder.
• Shoulder shaping with stepped cast-offs: Shoulders are shaped by crossing off (casting off) stitches in stepped intervals every 2 rows, with specific stitch counts varying by size to ensure a clean, angled shoulder line.
• Neckline shaping: The front neckline is formed through a series of graduated decreases worked centrewise — beginning with a larger cast-off, then progressively smaller decrements — producing a smooth, curved neckline.
• Centre front opening: The front is split at the centre by binding off 6 stitches, then each half is worked separately to create the button band opening.
• Making up and finishing: The completed pieces are sewn together using a tapestry needle, with buttons attached to complete the garment.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (garter stitch): The primary stitch used throughout the entire body of the pullover. Working every row in knit stitch produces a firm, textured fabric with excellent drape at this yarn weight. It also forms the 5 cm edge at the cast-on, providing a neat, stable lower border.
• Scallop stitch: Listed among the pattern stitches, the scallop stitch adds a decorative, wave-like texture to specific sections of the garment, providing visual interest and contrast against the plain knit fabric.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Adriafil Uno A Ritorto 5 — a 4-ply weight