Twin Vines Plus

Twin Vines Plus Knit Sweater by Fatimah Hinds

What is Being Made

Twin Vines Plus is an advanced knit sweater designed in extended sizes (XL1, XL2, 2X, and 3X) with finished bust measurements ranging from 48 to 57 inches. This garment features an A-line silhouette that flatters larger frames, knit seamlessly from the hem upward using the top-down construction method adapted for bottom-up knitting. The design incorporates color work that allows for strategic yarn carrying along the side seams, significantly reducing the number of ends that require weaving in during finishing.

Construction Technique

Twin Vines Plus employs in-the-round knitting construction, meaning the sweater is worked circularly from the bottom hem all the way to the armholes and yoke. This seamless approach creates a smooth, continuous fabric without side seams. The A-line shaping is achieved through strategic increases distributed throughout the body, creating a garment that widens gradually from the hem toward the bust. The color work is intentionally designed so that yarn colors can be carried up the side of the garment, a technique that streamlines the finishing process by eliminating many of the loose ends typically associated with multi-color knitting.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The pattern utilizes Stockinette stitch as the primary fabric structure, which creates a smooth, classic knit surface with characteristic V-shaped columns. The gauge for this sweater is 18 stitches by 30 rows over 4 inches by 4 inches in Stockinette stitch, which is standard for DK-weight yarn. The pattern includes additional stitch definitions provided in a legend within the pattern document, indicating the use of specialty stitches beyond basic Stockinette. The color work integration suggests the use of stranding or carrying techniques to manage multiple yarn colors within rounds.

Materials: Yarn

Twin Vines Plus calls for two distinct yarn types, both premium merino blends:

• Dream in Color Everlasting DK in colorway Gilt: This yarn is composed of 100% Superwash Australian Merino, offering durability and easy care. Each skein yields 275 yards and weighs 100 grams. The pattern requires 4 skeins for sizes XL1, XL2, and 2X, and 5 skeins for size 3X, providing ample yardage for the larger dimensions.
• Dream in Color Smooshy in colorway Sundown Orchid: This accent yarn is 100% Merino with 450 yards per 113-gram skein. Only 1 skein is required for all sizes, indicating its use as a secondary color element rather than the primary fabric.

Both yarns are classified as DK weight (4-ply), a medium-light yarn weight that produces a drapey, refined fabric suitable for sweaters. The yardage requirements total approximately 1,100 to 1,375 yards depending on size, with the Everlasting DK comprising the majority of the yardage.

Materials: Needles and Notions

The pattern specifies needle sizes appropriate for DK-weight yarn:

• US 8/5.0mm circular needle (24 inches or longer) and matching set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the main body knitting
• US 6/4.0mm circular needle (16 inches) and matching set of DPNs for ribbed edgings and fitted sections where a tighter gauge is desired

Additional notions include stitch markers (with one unique marker designated to mark the beginning of each round), a removable marker for tracking pattern repeats, waste yarn for holding stitches, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends during finishing.

Difficulty Level

Twin Vines Plus is rated as an advanced knitting project. This classification reflects the complexity of managing in-the-round construction, color work integration, size-specific instructions that require careful attention, and the technical skill needed to execute A-line shaping while maintaining gauge and pattern consistency. Knitters should have solid experience with circular knitting, color techniques, and the ability to read and follow detailed pattern instructions before undertaking this project.

Pattern Notes

The designer emphasizes several important considerations: the pattern includes size-specific directions that demand close attention to ensure correct construction for the chosen size. A detailed schematic is provided showing all available sizes to assist with fit verification. The sample garment shown in the pattern