Nantucket Top-Down Pullover #110

Nantucket Top-Down Pullover #110 by Sue McCain

What is Being Made

The Nantucket Top-Down Pullover is a women's knitted sweater designed for intermediate-level knitters. This pullover features a top-down construction method, allowing knitters to try on the garment as they work and customize the finished length. The pattern includes ten size options ranging from XX-Small through 6X-Large, with finished bust measurements spanning from 28.25 inches to 68.25 inches, making it accessible for a wide range of body types.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs top-down construction, a popular technique where knitting begins at the neckline and progresses downward toward the hem. This method offers several advantages: the ability to try on the garment during the knitting process, flexibility to adjust body and sleeve length before completing the project, and the convenience of binding off rather than casting on at the final stage. The sweater is worked in the round using circular needles, which creates seamless fabric and reduces finishing work.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used in this pullover is stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a distinctive V-pattern texture on the right side and horizontal bumps on the wrong side. Stockinette stitch is fundamental to sweater construction and provides an excellent canvas for showcasing yarn color and fiber characteristics. The pattern requires knitters to work with stitch markers in two different colors to track pattern repeats and construction points, and removable markers are used to hold stitches temporarily during the building process.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn Weight and Fiber Content: The Nantucket Top-Down Pullover is designed for light worsted weight or DK (double knitting) weight yarn. The yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 585 yards for the smallest size (XX-Small) to 1,550 yards for the largest size (6X-Large). The sample garment shown in the pattern was knitted using Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo, a yarn blend composed of 80% bamboo viscose and 20% wool, with each 50-gram skein providing 104 yards. This particular yarn was worked in color #124 Perky Pink. The bamboo-wool blend offers a soft hand, breathable qualities, and a gentle drape suitable for a lightweight pullover.

Needles: This pattern requires Size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles. Specifically, knitters will need one 24-inch circular needle (or longer) for working the body of the sweater in the round. For the sleeves, a 12-inch circular needle (or longer) and a set of five double-pointed needles in the same size are used. Circular needles accommodate the increasing number of stitches as the body expands from the neckline downward, while the smaller needles and double-pointed needles manage the smaller circumference of the sleeves.

Gauge and Fit Considerations

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit. The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 27 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when working in stockinette stitch. Knitters are strongly advised to knit a gauge swatch before beginning the project to ensure their tension matches the pattern specifications. Variations in gauge will directly affect the finished measurements of the sweater, potentially resulting in a garment that is too large or too small. Additionally, the pattern notes that knitters planning to increase the length of either the body or sleeves should purchase extra yarn beyond the specified yardage amounts.

Additional Notions

Beyond yarn and needles, this pattern requires stitch markers in two contrasting colors to help track pattern sections and construction points throughout the knitting process. Waste yarn is needed to temporarily hold stitches, and two removable markers assist with tracking specific locations in the pattern. These notions are standard supplies in most knitter's collections and help ensure accurate construction of the top-down design.