Imagine All The People

Imagine All The People Pullover by Sophie McKane

What is Being Made

Imagine All The People is a knitted pullover sweater designed by Sophie McKane. This downloadable knitting pattern offers a range of sizes from XS through 5X, with the design shown in two colorway options: a striking black and white sample knit in Walcot Yarns Opus, and a grey and purple variation created using Rosy Green Wool Cheeky Merino Joy. The sweater is engineered to fit with 7.5–10cm (3–4 inches) of positive ease at the bust, making it a comfortable, relaxed-fit garment suitable for everyday wear.

Craft and Techniques

This is an intermediate-level knitting project worked primarily in the round using circular needles. The construction method combines seamless knitting techniques with color work, allowing crafters to build the garment from the bottom up while maintaining continuity in the stitch pattern. The use of both circular needles and double-pointed needles (DPNs) enables efficient working of different sections, particularly the sleeves, which are typically worked on DPNs to maintain the tubular structure.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the garment is stockinette stitch (St st), worked in the round to create a smooth, classic fabric. The tension is set at 24 stitches by 28 rounds over 10cm (4 inches) of blocked stockinette stitch in the round, which is the gauge required to achieve the correct finished measurements and fit. The pattern incorporates color work, utilizing a main color (MC) and contrasting color (CC) to create the two-tone visual design that references the inspirational quote from John Lennon's "Imagine."

Materials and Tools

The pattern is designed for sport-weight yarn (also referred to as 4-ply), which is a lightweight yarn suitable for creating garments with good drape and definition. The black and white sample shown was knitted using Walcot Yarns Opus, a blend of 70% Falkland Merino wool and 30% baby alpaca, available in 100g skeins with approximately 325 meters (355 yards) per skein. The grey and purple sample was created with Rosy Green Wool Cheeky Merino Joy, a 100% merino yarn offered in 100g skeins with roughly 320 meters (350 yards) per skein.

Essential needles and notions include 3.5mm (US size 4) circular needles in both 30cm (12-inch) and 60cm (24-inch) lengths for working the body and larger sections, as well as 3.5mm (US size 4) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for seamlessly working the sleeves in the round. Additional notions required are 2 stitch markers to track pattern repeats and construction points, and waste yarn for securing stitches during the building process.

Design Details

The sweater features a schematic provided on page 8 of the pattern, detailing finished measurements for all eight size options. The design is shown on Sophie McKane herself, who wears a size M with an 86cm (34-inch) bust, and is also pictured in size S. The pattern's inspiration draws from the iconic John Lennon song "Imagine," with the opening lyrics "Imagine all the people / Living life in peace" serving as the thematic foundation for this thoughtfully designed intermediate knitting project.