Oranmore

Oranmore Knit Sweater by Bristol Ivy

What Is Being Made

The Oranmore is a modern, A-line pullover sweater that reimagines the traditional Aran pullover with a contemporary silhouette. This knit design features a flattering A-line shaping and is available in eight different sizes, ranging from 32 3/4" to 57 3/4" bust circumference after seaming and blocking, making it suitable for a wide range of body types.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project designed at an intermediate skill level. The sweater is worked using a combination of knitting techniques that require familiarity with cable work and stitch manipulation. The body of the sweater is worked flat, which means you knit the front and back pieces separately before seaming them together. This construction method is traditional and allows for precise shaping of the A-line silhouette.

The pattern incorporates cable panels as a key design element, characteristic of Aran knitting. Cables are created by crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle, producing the dimensional, twisted rope-like textures that define Aran sweaters. The reverse stockinette stitch is used as the background fabric, which makes the raised cable patterns stand out prominently.

Stitches Used

• Reverse stockinette stitch – forms the main fabric background and provides contrast to the cable work
• Cable stitches – created using a cable needle to cross stitches and form raised, twisted patterns typical of Aran design

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The pattern calls for Cormo 1.0 by Clara Yarn, which is 100% Cormo wool in a heavy worsted weight. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 975 yards for the smallest size to 1,715 yards for the largest. The yarn provides approximately 155 yards per 94-gram skein, so you will need between 7 and 12 skeins depending on your chosen size.

Needles: The project requires multiple needle sizes and types to accommodate different sections of the sweater. You will need one 24-inch circular needle or a pair of straight needles in US size 7 (4.5 mm) for the main body, along with a set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) in the same size. For the ribbed cuffs and neckline, smaller needles are used: one 24-inch circular needle or straight needles in US size 7 (4 mm), one 16-inch circular needle in US size 6 (4 mm), and a set of DPNs in US size 6 (4 mm). The pattern notes that circular needles may be substituted using the Magic Loop method if preferred.

Additional Notions and Gauge

Beyond yarn and needles, you will need a cable needle for manipulating cable stitches, stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping, and a tapestry needle for seaming the pieces together and weaving in ends.

The correct gauge is essential for achieving the finished measurements. The pattern specifies 19 1/2 stitches and 29 rows over 4 inches in reverse stockinette stitch using the larger needle, and 24 stitches and 29 rows over 4 inches in the cable panel. Knitting a gauge swatch before beginning ensures your finished sweater will fit as intended.