Amethyst Afternoon

Amethyst Afternoon Pullover by Karen Choquette

What is Being Made

The Amethyst Afternoon is a women's pullover sweater designed as a nearly seamless top-down knit. This intermediate-level project creates a comfortable, customizable pullover perfect for layering on cool days. The finished garment features a distinctive worn, well-loved aesthetic achieved through the natural color variation and thick-and-thin hand-spun texture of the yarn.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

This pullover employs a top-down raglan construction, which is the featured new skill for this pattern. The raglan method involves knitting the body and sleeves simultaneously from the neckline downward, creating subtle diagonal lines that extend from the neck to the underarms. This approach results in a nearly seamless garment with minimal finishing work required.

The sweater is knit in the round from the beginning, starting at the neckline and working downward. This circular knitting method eliminates the need for seaming the body pieces together, contributing to the seamless construction. Stitch markers play an important role in tracking pattern repeats and raglan increases throughout the project.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K) – Forms the primary fabric of the sweater body and sleeves
• Purl stitch (P) – Used in the neckband ribbing for elasticity and definition
• Raglan increases – Strategic increases worked at marked intervals to shape the garment and create the characteristic raglan silhouette

Yarn and Materials

The Amethyst Afternoon is designed to be knit with Manos del Uruguay 700 Tex, a bulky-weight hand-spun yarn that contributes significantly to the sweater's distinctive appearance. The yarn's natural color variation and intentional thick-and-thin texture create visual interest and the coveted worn, well-loved aesthetic.

Yardage requirements vary by size: Small/Medium requires 1000 yards (7 skeins), Medium/Large requires 1100 yards (8 skeins), and Large requires 1200 yards (9 skeins).

Needles and Notions

• U.S. Size 10 circular needles – Primary needles for knitting the body and sleeves in the round
• U.S. Size 9 double-pointed needles (dpn) – Used for the sleeve cuffs and neckband ribbing to maintain proper gauge and elasticity in these fitted areas
• Stitch markers – Multiple markers required, including three markers in a different color to differentiate the start-of-round marker and additional pattern markers from the working needles
• Row/Round counter – Helpful for tracking progress through the pattern

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 16 stitches and 18 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the bulky-weight yarn and U.S. Size 10 needles. This relatively loose gauge is typical for chunky yarn and creates a fabric with good drape and warmth.

Finished sizes are available in Women's Small/Medium and Large, with customization options available to achieve the perfect fit. Cast-on stitch counts are 74 stitches for Small/Medium and 78 stitches for Large.

Skill Level and Project Difficulty

The Amethyst Afternoon is rated as Advanced Beginner difficulty. While the pattern introduces the raglan pullover technique as a new skill, the straightforward construction and use of basic knit and purl stitches make it accessible to knitters who have mastered fundamental techniques. The top-down method allows for easy fitting adjustments and customization as you work, making it an excellent project for building confidence with more complex garment construction.