Zig Zag Pullover

Zig Zag Pullover by BiggerthanlifeKnits

What is Being Made

The Zig Zag Pullover is a knitted pullover sweater designed by Noma Ndlovu and available as a downloadable PDF pattern. This garment features an eye-catching textured design created through the strategic use of knit and purl stitches, making it an ideal project for knitters with intermediate-level skills. The pullover is suitable for personal crafting and offers multiple size options to accommodate different body measurements.

Construction Technique

This pullover is constructed using a bottom-up, in-the-round knitting method, which is a popular approach for creating seamless garments. The knitter begins at the lower edge and works upward in circular rows. Once the body reaches the appropriate length, the front and back sections are worked separately in stockinette stitch. The shoulders are then professionally finished using a 3 needle bind off technique, which creates a strong, neat seam that joins the front and back pieces together seamlessly.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch – the fundamental stitch that forms the base of the textured pattern
• Purl stitch – used in combination with knit stitches to create the distinctive zig zag texture throughout the garment
• Stockinette stitch – used for the front and back sections after the initial in-the-round body work
• 3 needle bind off – the shoulder joining technique that provides a finished, professional appearance

Materials and Tools

The Zig Zag Pullover pattern calls for Nurturing Fibres Supertwist Sock yarn, a 100% Merino Wool fiber in a 4-ply weight. The pattern provides yardage requirements across multiple sizes, ranging from 840 to 1740 meters (920 to 1900 yards), with each size requiring between 3 to 6 skeins of 100g yarn, with each skein containing approximately 320 meters or 350 yards. The sample garment shown in the pattern was created in the Cedar colorway.

Knitters will need US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles measuring 32 inches (80 cm) long for the initial body work and US 2.5 (3.0 mm) circular needles measuring 24 inches (60 cm) long for ribbed or fitted sections. Additional supplies include scrap yarn for holding stitches and a yarn needle for weaving in ends. The pattern specifies a gauge of 26 stitches, which should be verified before beginning the project to ensure proper fit.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic knit and purl stitches and are comfortable working in the round with circular needles. The combination of texture work, in-the-round construction, and the shoulder joining technique provides a good progression in skill development without being overly complex.