Magnetic North Pullover

Magnetic North Pullover by Sharon Slarke

Garment Overview

The Magnetic North Pullover is an advanced-level fitted pullover sweater designed by Sharon Slarke. This elegant knitwear piece features decorative lace throughout the body and a distinctive shawl collar, creating a sophisticated silhouette suitable for those with intermediate to advanced knitting experience.

What Is Being Made

This is a women's fitted pullover sweater with refined construction details. The garment combines a close-fitting body with lace patterning and is finished with a shawl collar and lace edging. Available in three sizes with finished chest measurements of 84cm (33 inches), 94cm (37 inches), and 115cm (45¼ inches), with corresponding lengths of 51cm to 53cm (20 to 20¾ inches).

Knitting Techniques Used

The Magnetic North Pullover employs several advanced knitting techniques that contribute to its sophisticated appearance. The construction utilizes lace knitting throughout, requiring careful attention to yarn overs and decreases to create the openwork patterns. The shawl collar is integrated into the design, adding an elegant neckline detail. Lace edging further embellishes the garment, demonstrating the designer's attention to finishing details. These techniques combined create a garment suitable for experienced knitters seeking a refined project.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used in the Magnetic North Pullover is the Scattered Flowers Stitch, which forms the main fabric of the sweater. This stitch pattern is worked over the body of the garment and is knitted at a gauge of 22.3 stitches and 35 rows per 10cm (4 inches) using 3.25mm needles.

The garment also features the Shark's Tooth stitch pattern, a lace motif worked over a multiple of 8 stitches. This pattern incorporates fundamental lace techniques including:

• Yarn forwards (yf) - creating deliberate holes in the fabric for the lace effect
• Knit 2 together (k2 tog) - a right-leaning decrease
• Slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (skpo) - a left-leaning decrease that balances yarn overs
• Slip stitch (sl1) - used for edge stitches and pattern definition
• Purl stitches (p1) - creating texture variation between lace rows

The Shark's Tooth pattern alternates between knit and purl rows, with strategic yarn overs and decreases creating the characteristic tooth-like lace motif. This stitch pattern demonstrates the interplay between increases and decreases essential to lace knitting.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Magnetic North Pullover is designed to be knitted in Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk, a luxury yarn composed of 75% Merino wool, 20% silk, and 5% cashmere. This yarn is supplied in 100g balls, each containing approximately 170 meters (186 yards), and is classified as a fingering or 4 ply weight yarn.

Yarn requirements vary by size: the smallest size requires 6 balls, the medium size requires 7 balls, and the largest size requires 9 balls of yarn. The pattern notes that any other fingering or 4 ply weight yarn may be substituted, allowing knitters flexibility in fiber choice while maintaining the intended drape and finished measurements.

Needles and Gauge

The Magnetic North Pullover is worked on 3.25mm straight needles, or needles sized to obtain the specified gauge. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this fitted garment: 22.3 stitches and 35 rows to 10cm (4 inches) in the Scattered Flowers Stitch. Knitters are advised to swatch and adjust needle size as necessary to match this gauge, ensuring the finished sweater achieves the intended measurements and drape.

Skill Level and Craftsmanship

Rated as an advanced knitting project, the Magnetic North Pullover is best suited for experienced knitters. The combination of fitted shaping, lace patterning, and shawl collar construction requires solid foundational skills and the ability to read and execute complex stitch patterns while maintaining consistent gauge and tension.