Sestriere Pullover in Adriafil Knitcol and Kid Mohair - Downloadable PDF

Sestriere Pullover in Adriafil Knitcol and Kid Mohair – Free Knitting Pattern (Downloadable PDF)

The Sestriere Pullover is a classic hand-knitted sweater designed using two complementary Adriafil yarns: the richly self-striping Knitcol and the delicate, halo-effect Kid Mohair. The combination of these two yarns gives the finished garment a luxurious, softly textured appearance with naturally occurring colour gradients. This is a free downloadable PDF pattern, making it an accessible project for knitters who want to explore multi-yarn construction and traditional shaping techniques.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a fitted pullover sweater — referred to in the pattern as a pull — worked in pieces and seamed together. The design features a shaped body with side decreases and increases to create a tailored silhouette, as well as armhole shaping. The garment is sized for a size 48 (with supplementary sizes 44–46), making it suitable for a range of adult fits.

Yarns and Materials

• Adriafil Knitcol – approximately 450 g in colour no. 52. Knitcol is a self-striping yarn that produces automatic colour changes as you knit, eliminating the need for manual colour changes or intarsia. It is classified as a DK weight yarn.
• Adriafil Kid Mohair – approximately 100 g in lilac, colour no. 65. Kid Mohair is a fine, lightweight yarn — typically a 3-ply / lace weight — spun from the fleece of young Angora goats. It adds a soft, airy halo and a touch of warmth and luxury to the finished fabric.
• Knitting needles in sizes 3.5 mm (no. 3½) and 4 mm (no. 4)
• A tapestry needle for seaming and finishing

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 24 stitches and 31 rows to 10 cm × 10 cm, measured over knit stitch using 4 mm needles and Adriafil Knitcol yarn. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the shaping and sizing to work as intended, so knitters are encouraged to work a tension swatch before beginning.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Elastic rib – used at the border/cast-on edge to create a stretchy, neat start to the garment. The pattern specifies 6 rows of elastic rib as the initial border.
• K1/P1 rib stitch – a standard alternating knit-one, purl-one ribbing, worked for 2 rows following the elastic rib, completing the cuff and hem borders at approximately 1.5 cm total depth.
• Knit stitch (stockinette / plain knitting) – the main body fabric of the pullover is worked entirely in knit stitch, which creates a smooth, classic jersey surface that allows the self-striping colours of Knitcol to show beautifully.
• Side shaping with decreases and increases – the body is shaped by decreasing 2 stitches every 12 rows, 4 times at each side (worked inside 3 stitches from the edge), followed by increases of 1 stitch every 6 rows, 4 times, to create a fitted waist and flared hip-to-bust shaping.
• Armhole shaping – structured decreases are worked at the armhole edges: 2 stitches decreased every 2 rows for 3 repetitions, followed by 2 stitches decreased every 4 rows for 5 repetitions, with adjusted instructions provided for the supplementary sizes 44–46.
• Piece construction and seaming – the pullover is knitted in separate pieces (back, and implied front and sleeves) and joined using a tapestry needle, a traditional construction method that allows for precise shaping and a neat finish.

Pattern Construction Notes