Seagate

Seagate Knitted Sweater by Patty Lyons

What is Being Made

The Seagate is a knitted pullover sweater designed by Patty Lyons as an intermediate-level project. This garment is crafted as a simple, flattering sweater that serves as a perfect showcase for hand-dyed yarn. The sweater features a distinctive deep cowl neck created using short row shaping, making it both a stylish and technically interesting knitting project. Available in ten sizes ranging from 32 inches to 60 inches in finished chest circumference, the Seagate accommodates a wide range of body types and fit preferences.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Seagate employs several key knitting techniques that contribute to its intermediate difficulty level. Short row shaping is the primary technique featured in this design, used specifically to create the deep cowl neck that gives the sweater its distinctive silhouette. This technique involves working partial rows to add depth and dimension to the neckline. The pattern also utilizes circular needle construction, allowing knitters to work the sleeves and body simultaneously on a single 24-inch circular needle, which streamlines the building process and reduces finishing work.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Seagate is primarily constructed in stockinette stitch, the fundamental knit fabric that creates a smooth, classic appearance ideal for displaying the beauty of hand-dyed yarn. Stockinette stitch is worked by alternating knit and purl rows in flat knitting or knit rounds in circular knitting. The pattern emphasizes the importance of achieving proper gauge in stockinette stitch, with a required gauge of 28 stitches and 38 rows per 4 inches when measured on the smaller needle size and after blocking. This gauge specification is critical for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Seagate pattern calls for Anzula Squishy yarn in the Mariana colorway. This premium yarn is fingering weight (despite the product attribute listing of 4-ply, the PDF specifies fingering weight) and features a luxurious fiber content of 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, and 10% Nylon. Each hank provides 385 yards (352 meters) of yardage. Yardage requirements range from 3 hanks for the smallest size to 6 hanks for the largest size, allowing knitters to select the appropriate quantity based on their chosen finished measurements.

The pattern requires two circular needle sizes: US 5 (3.75 mm) needles for the main body and sleeves worked in stockinette stitch, and US 4 (3.5 mm) needles for ribbed sections and other areas requiring a tighter gauge. Both needles should be 24 inches (60 centimeters) in length to accommodate working sleeves and body simultaneously. Knitters should select needles that allow them to achieve the specified gauge of 28 stitches and 38 rows per 4 inches on the smaller needle. The pattern also requires basic notions including stitch markers to track pattern repeats and construction points.

Pattern Notes and Finishing

The designer emphasizes the importance of checking gauge before beginning the Seagate, noting that taking time to verify gauge will save time during the actual knitting process. The pattern includes tutorials for both stitch gauge and row gauge adjustments, providing knitters with resources to modify their needle sizes if their initial gauge swatch does not match the required specifications. All finished measurements are provided in both inches and centimeters, with length measurements ranging from 20¾ inches to 27¾ inches depending on size selection. The pattern specifies that gauge should be measured on blocked fabric, as blocking can significantly affect the final dimensions of the knitted pieces.