Sweater and Top in Stylecraft Pearls - 9780 - Downloadable PDF

Sweater and Top in Stylecraft Pearls 9780 – Pattern Summary

This downloadable PDF from Stylecraft presents two distinct knitted designs: a classic Sweater and a Top, both worked in Stylecraft Pearls yarn. The pattern is graded across five sizes, fitting bust measurements of 81–86 cm up to 122–127 cm (32–34 in to 48–50 in), making it an inclusive pattern that caters to a wide range of figures, including larger sizes. The difficulty level is intermediate, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and rib techniques but are ready to develop their skills further.

Design One: The Sweater

The Sweater is a substantial, wearable garment with generous proportions. Actual finished bust measurements range from 95 cm (37½ in) to 135 cm (53¼ in), offering a comfortable, relaxed fit across all sizes. The full length sits between 25 cm and 27½ cm up to approximately 66–67½ cm depending on size, and the cuff-to-cuff measurement spans 99 cm to 123 cm (39 in to 48½ in), indicating a design with real sleeve presence and width.

Construction and Techniques

The Sweater is worked in separate pieces — the pattern details a Back section explicitly, with the construction following a conventional flat-knitting approach. Knitters begin by casting on stitches using 4.5mm needles and immediately work a substantial k2, p2 rib for the lower border, which continues for 16 cm (6¼ in). This deep rib creates a firm, elasticated hem that holds its shape well and gives the sweater a structured, polished finish.

Following the rib section, a decrease row is worked on the wrong side to reduce the stitch count and shape the transition into the body fabric. This decrease row is carefully calculated for each size — for example, working decreases evenly spaced across the row — resulting in a neat narrowing that avoids any unwanted bulk at the waist or lower body. The precise stitch counts after decreasing range from 71 sts up to 101 sts depending on the size chosen.

Stitches Used

• K2, P2 Rib – used for the cuffs and lower borders, worked over a two-row repeat
• Standard knit and purl stitches – forming the main body fabric
• Work 2 together (W2tog) – a decrease technique used in the shaping row to reduce stitch count smoothly

Materials

The Sweater is knitted using Stylecraft Pearls yarn on 4.5mm needles. Stylecraft Pearls is a yarn with a distinctive character, and its weight is noted as varied within the pattern attributes, suggesting the yarn may have textural or construction qualities that contribute to the finished fabric's drape and appearance. Knitters should refer to the full pattern PDF for precise yardage and ball quantities per size.

Design Two: The Top

The Top is the second design included in pattern 9780 and offers a longer, more fitted silhouette compared to the Sweater. Actual finished bust measurements for the Top range from 148 cm (58¼ in) to 188 cm (74 in), reflecting a design with considerable ease or a deliberately oversized, relaxed aesthetic. The full length is noted as beginning at 60 cm for the smallest size, making this a longer-line top suitable for wearing over leggings or slim trousers.

Construction and Techniques

Like the Sweater, the Top is a flat-knitted design worked in pieces. The pattern follows the same general construction principles — beginning with ribbed borders and transitioning into the main body fabric — though the proportions and shaping differ to achieve the longer, more relaxed silhouette. The use of k2, p2 rib is consistent across both designs, providing a cohesive design language between the two garments in the collection.

Stitches Used

• K2, P2