Newbridge Pullover in Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed - Downloadable PDF

Newbridge Pullover by Rosemary Drysdale in Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed

The Newbridge Pullover is a classic, beautifully textured knitted pullover sweater designed by Rosemary Drysdale and worked in the richly flecked Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed. This intermediate-level pattern produces a timeless, structured garment with a sophisticated silhouette, making it an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and are ready to refine their skills with seamed, flat construction techniques.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a pullover sweater worked in six sizes ranging from Small through 3X, with finished bust measurements spanning 36 to 56 inches (91.5 to 142 cm) and lengths ranging from 23½ to 27 inches (59.5 to 68.5 cm). The sweater features a neat neckband and set-in or raglan-style sleeve shaping, giving it a clean, tailored appearance suited to a wide range of body types. The design is worked in a warm, earthy colorway — specifically color #874 Wine — which beautifully showcases the characteristic flecked texture of Donegal Tweed yarn.

Construction Techniques

The Newbridge Pullover is constructed using a bottom-up, worked flat, seamed method. This means each major piece — the front, back, and sleeves — is knitted separately from the cast-on edge upward, then joined together using seaming techniques at the end. This traditional approach to sweater construction gives the finished garment excellent structure and durability, and allows knitters to block each piece individually before assembly for the most professional result.

• Bottom-up construction: Knitting begins at the lower hem of each piece and works upward toward the shoulders and neckline, allowing for straightforward shaping along the way.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted back and forth in rows on straight needles, making this an accessible method for knitters who prefer flat knitting over working in the round for the main body sections.
• Seamed finishing: The individual pieces are sewn together after blocking, a technique that adds stability to the seams and contributes to the garment's overall shape retention over time.
• Raglan decreases: The pattern includes specific raglan-style decrease shaping, worked at each neck edge, contributing to the fitted upper body and sleeve cap design.

Stitches Used

The pattern makes use of several foundational knitting stitches and stitch patterns, each serving a distinct structural or decorative purpose:

• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch pattern used throughout the body and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic fabric on the right side. Gauge is measured in stockinette stitch at 14 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches (10 cm), blocked.
• K1, P1 Rib: A one-by-one ribbing stitch is used for the sleeve cuffs, worked for approximately 2 inches. This elastic stitch pattern creates a snug, stretchy edge that keeps the cuffs neatly in place at the wrist.
• Raglan decrease stitches: Specific decrease techniques are employed at the neck and armhole edges to shape the upper body and sleeves, creating the characteristic angled lines of raglan-style shaping.
• Neckband ribbing: The neckband is worked in the round using a circular needle, adding a tidy, finished edge to the collar of the pullover.

Materials

The pattern calls for Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed, a 100% pure new wool yarn that comes in 3.5 oz (100g) hanks, each measuring 183 yards (167 meters). This is a worsted weight yarn, making it ideal for achieving the recommended gauge and for producing a fabric with excellent stitch definition and warmth. The required yardage varies by size:

• Small: 4 hanks
• Medium: 5 hanks
• Large: 6 hanks
• XL: