Lira Maxi Pullover in Adriafil New Zealand - Downloadable PDF

Lira Maxi Pullover in Adriafil New Zealand – Free Knitting Pattern Summary

The Lira Maxi Pullover is a substantial, relaxed-fit pullover sweater designed for knitters working at an aran weight gauge. This free downloadable PDF pattern from Adriafil Yarns produces a cosy, textured maxi-length pullover featuring an impressive combination of classic and decorative stitch patterns. The design is worked in Adriafil New Zealand yarn, a premium aran-weight yarn, and is sized to fit a range of bust measurements: 42 (44–46).

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a maxi pullover sweater — a long, oversized knitted jumper with integrated sleeves. The generous length and relaxed silhouette make it a statement wardrobe piece suitable for cooler seasons. The construction combines body and sleeve sections with richly textured stitch panels, giving the garment both visual interest and warmth.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Adriafil New Zealand, colour 68 — 500 g total required
• Knitting needles: 4½ mm straight knitting needles
• Two-tip knitting needles (double-pointed or cable needle) for cable work
• Tapestry needle for finishing and seaming

Adriafil New Zealand is an aran-weight yarn well regarded for its softness and stitch definition, making it particularly well suited to the cable and textured panels featured in this design. Its weight and fibre character help the purl stitch fabric drape beautifully while keeping the cable motifs crisp and defined.

Gauge

The stated gauge is 21 stitches and 27 rows over 10 × 10 cm, measured in purl stitch on 4½ mm knitting needles. Achieving the correct gauge is especially important in a garment of this size to ensure the finished length and width match the intended sizing.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting worked back and forth in rows
• Cable knitting — a 14-stitch cable panel requiring a cable needle, with a full 15-row repeat
• Evenly spaced decreasing when transitioning between stitch sections
• Shaping for the neckline and sleeve integration
• Seaming and finishing with a tapestry needle

Stitches Used

• Elastic rib — used as an edge stitch at the start and finish of sections
• K1/P1 rib stitch — single rib, alternating one knit and one purl stitch
• K2/P2 rib stitch — double rib, worked for approximately 15–17 cm to create a stretchy, structured lower body section
• Purl stitch — the main body fabric, worked over the majority of the garment after the ribbed section
• Cable stitch — worked over 14 stitches with a detailed row-by-row repeat: knit rows on rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13; purl on all even rows; the cable cross is executed on row 9 by placing 7 stitches on a cable needle held to the front, knitting the next 7 stitches, then knitting the held stitches — creating a bold left-leaning cable twist that repeats from row 15 onward
• Cable loop stitch — an additional decorative stitch element adding further surface texture to the design
• Knit stitch — used to finish off rib sections cleanly

Construction Notes

The back and sleeves are cast on together with 110 (118–126) stitches, beginning with 2 rows of elastic rib before transitioning into the K2/P2 rib section. After the ribbing reaches the required length,