Killarney Top-Down Pullover #103

Killarney Top-Down Pullover #103 by Sue McCain

What Is Being Made

The Killarney Top-Down Pullover is a women's knitted sweater designed for intermediate knitters. This pullover is constructed using a top-down method, beginning at the neckline and working downward to create the body and sleeves. The pattern includes 11 size options ranging from XX-Small through 6X-Large, with finished bust measurements from 27 inches to 67 inches, making it accessible for a wide range of body types.

Construction Method and Techniques

This sweater employs a top-down raglan construction, a popular technique in modern knitting that allows knitters to try on the garment as they work and easily adjust length before binding off. The design uses seamless circular knitting methods, eliminating the need for seaming pieces together after completion. Knitters begin at the neckline and increase stitches strategically to shape the raglan armholes while simultaneously creating the body and sleeves.

The pattern requires working with circular needles for the main body sections and double-pointed needles for the sleeve caps, a standard approach for seamless garment construction. The use of stitch markers in two different colors helps track pattern repeats and shaping increases throughout the project.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Killarney Top-Down Pullover is primarily worked in stockinette stitch (St st), the foundational knit stitch pattern that creates a smooth, classic fabric. Stockinette stitch involves alternating knit rows and purl rows when working flat, or knitting every round when working in the round, producing the characteristic V-shaped texture associated with traditional knitwear.

Yarn and Materials

This design calls for DK/light worsted weight yarn in a mohair and wool blend. The yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 875 yards for the smallest size (XX-Small) to 1,875 yards for the largest size (6X-Large). The model garment shown in the pattern was knit using Shibui Knits Merino Kid, a premium yarn composed of 55% kid mohair and 45% merino wool, available in 100-gram skeins with 218 yards per skein. The sample was worked in the colorway Pagoda.

Needles and Gauge

The Killarney Top-Down Pullover requires size 6 (4 mm) circular needles in two lengths: a 24-inch needle (or longer) for working the main body sections, and a 12-inch needle (or longer) for sleeve work. A size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches is also needed, likely for ribbed edgings or cuffs that require a tighter gauge.

The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 22 stitches and 29 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch using the larger needles. Obtaining the correct gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly important in a top-down construction where adjustments become more difficult once stitches are cast on.

Additional Notions

Beyond yarn and needles, knitters will need stitch markers in two different colors to track increases and pattern sections, waste yarn for holding stitches temporarily during construction, and two removable markers for marking specific points in the pattern or measuring gauge.

Skill Level and Project Considerations

Rated as an intermediate project, the Killarney Top-Down Pullover assumes knitters have experience with basic techniques including circular knitting, increasing stitches, and reading pattern instructions. The top-down raglan method is well-suited for customization; the pattern notes that knitters planning to adjust the length of the body or sleeves should purchase additional yarn beyond the specified yardage to ensure sufficient material for modifications.