Make Believe Boulevard

Make Believe Boulevard Cropped Pullover by Deb Hoss

What is Being Made

Make Believe Boulevard is a cropped pullover sweater designed by independent knitter Deb Hoss. This top-down knit features a distinctive deep V-neckline and a modern cropped silhouette, making it a versatile piece suitable for multiple seasons. The sweater is available in seven sizes ranging from 31 inches to 55 inches in finished bust circumference (78.7 cm to 139.7 cm), accommodating a wide range of body measurements. The design is shown modeled in size 35 inches (88.9 cm) worn with no ease for a close, contemporary fit.

Knitting Techniques

Make Believe Boulevard employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques that create both visual interest and structural integrity. The sweater is worked top-down, a construction method that allows for easy fitting adjustments and minimal seaming. The design is mostly seamless, with the exception of set-in sleeves, which are shaped and attached using traditional sleeve cap techniques for a polished, tailored appearance.

The garment utilizes short row shaping for custom fit and drape, and features stitch pick-up along the neckline to create the ribbed trim that frames the deep V-neck. Circular knitting is used throughout the body, streamlining construction and reducing seaming work. The pattern requires proficiency with both decreasing stitches (ssk and k2tog) and increasing stitches (m1L and m1R) for shaping.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used throughout Make Believe Boulevard is the 3 x 3 Garter Rib, which creates alternating stripes of knit and purl stitches. This textured stitch pattern adds visual dimension and subtle interest to the sweater while maintaining a balanced, wearable aesthetic. The Garter Rib pattern works up relatively quickly, contributing to the overall efficient knitting timeline. Ribbing is also used at the neckline and hems for a finished, professional edge that provides elasticity and helps the garment maintain its shape through wear and washing.

Materials and Yarn Weight

Make Believe Boulevard is designed to be worked in worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that knits at a standard gauge and produces a fabric with good drape and durability. Worsted weight is ideal for sweater construction, offering a balance between stitch definition and fabric density. The pattern requires circular needles for the top-down construction method and seamless body knitting, as well as standard knitting needles for any necessary finishing work.

Skill Level and Finishing

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic stockinette stitch. Required skills include long-tail cast on, cable cast on or knitted cast on, and proficiency with the various shaping techniques mentioned above. The pattern concludes with blocking, a finishing step that sets the stitches and helps achieve the intended measurements and drape of the finished garment.