675 Post and Beam Pullover - Sweater Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Sunderland

Pattern #675 Post and Beam Pullover – Women's Knitting Pattern Featuring Valley Yarns Sunderland

The Post and Beam Pullover, pattern #675, is a women's set-in sleeve pullover designed by Kirsten Hipsky and published as a downloadable PDF. It is knitted in Valley Yarns Sunderland, a 100% Baby Alpaca DK weight yarn that lends the finished garment a soft, luxurious hand and a beautifully heathered appearance. The design is described as proof that bold, striking results can be achieved without complex stitch patterns — instead, the visual interest comes from confident columns of knit and purl stitches that form the signature "post and beam" panel running up the front of the garment.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a classic pullover sweater for women with a structured, set-in sleeve silhouette. The garment features a textured front panel flanked by smooth stockinette, a plain stockinette back, set-in sleeves, and a ribbed hem. It is available in seven finished sizes ranging from 36 to 60 inches in finished bust circumference, with the sample shown in the 36-inch size. The design is rated advanced beginner, making it an excellent step-up project for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to tackle shaping and a simple repeating panel stitch.

Design Details and Construction

The Post and Beam Pullover is constructed flat and seamed, meaning the front, back, and sleeves are each worked separately as flat pieces and then sewn together upon completion. This traditional construction method is ideal for knitters who want to build confidence with finishing techniques such as mattress stitch seaming and setting in sleeves. The garment is worked bottom-up, beginning at the lower hem and working upward toward the shoulders.

• Back: Stitches are cast on and worked in k1, p1 ribbing for 1½ inches to create a neat, stretchy hem. The body is then worked in stockinette stitch until the piece reaches 17 inches or the knitter's desired length to the underarm. Armhole shaping is achieved through a combination of bind-offs at the beginning of rows and paired decreases on right-side rows. After the armhole is complete, shoulder shaping is worked with a series of bind-offs to create a clean, angled shoulder line.
• Front: The front begins identically to the back with a ribbed hem, but transitions into a more complex setup row that establishes the signature textured panel. Markers are placed to frame the central panel, which features k1b (knit through the back loop) columns flanking sections of 12 purl stitches, separated by two knit stitches at the center. This arrangement of knit-through-back-loop stitches and purl columns creates the bold, architectural "post and beam" effect. The panel is maintained throughout the body and into the armhole shaping, while the sections outside the markers remain in stockinette. The front armhole shaping mirrors the back, and the front is worked to a shorter armhole depth to allow for neck shaping.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction — the garment is built from the cast-on edge upward
• Flat knitting — all pieces are worked back and forth in rows on straight or circular needles
• Seamed finishing — individual pieces are joined after knitting
• Set-in sleeve shaping — a classic, tailored armhole and sleeve cap construction
• Armhole shaping — using bind-offs and paired decreases on right-side rows
• Shoulder shaping — worked with stepped bind-offs for a smooth shoulder line
• Stitch marker placement and management — markers frame the front panel throughout

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch — the primary fabric of the back, sleeves, and side sections of the front
• k1, p1 ribbing — used for the lower hem and cuffs to provide elasticity and a polished edge
• k1b (knit through the back loop) — used within the front panel to create the raised, twisted "post" columns that define the design