Noirinne

Noirinne Knitted Garment by Caroline Murphy

What Is Being Made

Noirinne is a downloadable knitting pattern designed by Caroline Murphy for an intermediate-level knitted garment. The finished piece measures 50.75 cm (20 inches) across the lower edge and 27.25 cm (10.75 inches) from the lower edge to the neck edge, making it a relatively compact project suitable for a fitted upper-body garment or accessory piece.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern requires approximately 160 metres (175 yards) of DK weight yarn, making it an efficient project that uses minimal yardage. The pattern is worked on 4mm needles, with a required gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stocking stitch. The modest yardage requirement makes Noirinne an excellent choice for knitters looking to use up yarn stash or create a quick project.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Noirinne employs several fundamental and decorative knitting techniques that define its construction and visual interest:

• Stocking Stitch: The primary fabric structure, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, providing a smooth, classic knitted appearance.
• Garter Stitch: Used in the lower border section where knit and purl rows are worked to create a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges.
• Yarn Overs (yo): Decorative increases that create small eyelet holes, used in alternating lace-like rows to add visual texture and breathability to the lower border.
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease stitch paired with yarn overs to create the lace pattern in the lower border.
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease stitch that provides balanced shaping throughout the garment.
• Purl Two Together (p2tog): A decrease worked on wrong-side rows for seamless shaping.

Pattern Structure and Construction

The pattern begins with a decorative lower border that establishes both the foundation and aesthetic character of the piece. The border is constructed over ten rows, starting with garter stitch edging followed by alternating lace rows created through the strategic placement of yarn overs and decreases. Row 5 features a k1, [yo, k2tog] to last st, k1 repeat, while Row 7 reverses this with k1, [k2tog, yo] to last st, k1, creating a balanced, directional lace pattern. This border technique adds visual interest and a professional finish to the lower edge while maintaining structural integrity through the strategic use of decreases to balance the yarn overs.

The pattern is worked flat on straight needles, beginning with a cast-on of 84 stitches that establishes the full width of the lower edge. The intermediate difficulty level indicates that knitters should be comfortable with reading pattern abbreviations, managing gauge, and executing decreases and yarn overs with consistency.