Violet Aster

Violet Aster Knit Sweater by BabyCocktails

What Is Being Made

Violet Aster is a knitted sweater designed by BabyCocktails (Thea Colman) available as a downloadable PDF pattern. This garment is a pullover-style sweater worked in the round from the top down, featuring a fitted yoke with lace patterning that transitions to stockinette stitch through the body and sleeves. The sweater is offered in nine sizes ranging from 36.5 inches to 62 inches in bust circumference, accommodating a wide range of body types. The sample shown is photographed with 4 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques suitable for knitters with beginner-to-intermediate experience. The sweater is constructed using the top-down raglan method, worked in the round to minimize seaming. The yoke features lace patterning combined with stockinette stitch sections, requiring knitters to read and follow lace charts or written instructions. Gauge changes are incorporated through the pattern, with different needle sizes used for the upper yoke compared to the body and sleeves to achieve proper fit and drape. The construction method allows for seamless integration of increases in the yoke that shape the garment.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric throughout the body and sleeves
• Lace patterns are featured in the yoke section, adding visual interest and texture
• Ribbing is implied for cuffs and edges based on standard sweater construction

Yarn and Needle Requirements

The Violet Aster pattern calls for worsted-weight yarn totaling between 1000 and 1850 yards depending on size selected. The sample is knitted in De Rerum Natura Gilliatt in the colorway Aster, a 100% French Merino Wool yarn that provides 273 yards per 100-gram skein. This natural fiber choice offers softness and breathability ideal for a close-fitting sweater.

Multiple needle sizes are required to execute the pattern properly. US #7 (4.5mm) needles are used at gauge for the body and sleeves, worked on long circular needles for the body sections. US #6 (4mm) and US #5 (3.75mm) needles—the next two sizes smaller than the gauge needle—are used for the upper yoke to create shaping and control. Shorter circular needles in US #7 (4.5mm) are recommended for sleeve circumferences, with double-pointed needles or the knitter's preferred small-circumference method as an alternative.

Gauge and Finished Measurements

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows per 4 inches in both stockinette and lace patterns. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the sweater to fit correctly across all nine sizes. Finished bust circumferences range from 36.5 inches (92.75 cm) in the smallest size to 62 inches (157.5 cm) in the largest, with all measurements provided on the final page of the pattern for reference during knitting.

Notions and Finishing Supplies

• Stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping increases
• Darning needle for weaving in ends after completion
• Waste yarn or stitch holders for securing stitches during construction

The Violet Aster represents a thoughtfully designed knit sweater that balances beginner-friendly top-down construction with the visual sophistication of lace patterning, making it an appealing project for knitters seeking to expand their skills while creating a wearable, elegant garment.