Weekend beauty

Weekend Beauty Knit Sweater by Carol Beliveau

Project Overview

Weekend Beauty is an intermediate-level knit sweater designed by independent designer Carol Beliveau. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a fitted pullover sweater suitable for bust sizes 34" to 40" (87cm to 102cm). The design features elegant eyelet patterning on the back and yoke, making it an ideal project for knitters looking to develop their skills with decorative stitch techniques.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a classic knit sweater with a fitted silhouette. The garment showcases an eyelet pattern as a key design element, worked across the back piece and repeated on the yoke for visual continuity. The sweater is constructed using traditional knit construction methods, with the back piece serving as the foundation for the garment's structure.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Eyelet Pattern Work: A decorative openwork technique created using yarn overs and decreases to form small holes in a regular pattern. This technique is worked over 2 rows and repeated throughout the back and yoke sections.
• Yarn Overs (YO): Creates the openings characteristic of eyelet patterns by wrapping yarn around the needle to add stitches.
• Decreases: Multiple decrease methods are employed to balance yarn overs and shape the garment.
• Gauge Matching: Critical for proper fit, with the pattern requiring 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10cm) on size 9 U.S. needles.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations and techniques:

• K: Knit stitch
• P: Purl stitch
• YO: Yarn over for creating eyelets
• SL1: Slip one stitch
• K2tog: Knit two stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
• PSSO: Pass slipped stitch over (used in combination with slipped stitches for decorative decreases)
• P2tog: Purl two stitches together
• P2tog tbl: Purl two stitches together through back loop
• P3tog: Purl three stitches together (creates a more pronounced decrease)
• INC: Increase stitch

Eyelet Pattern Detail

The signature eyelet pattern is worked over 2 rows and forms the decorative foundation of the design. Row 1 establishes the pattern with yarn overs and decreases: P5, *YO, SL1, K2tog, PSSO, YO, P5 – repeat from * to end. Row 2 creates the purl structure: K5 * P3, K5 – repeat from * to end. These 2 rows are repeated to reach 6 inches (15.24cm) and are worked again on the yoke, creating visual harmony throughout the garment.

Materials Required

• Yarn: 5 balls of Katia Darling or approximately 800 yards of fingering weight yarn (4-ply). Fingering weight yarn is a fine yarn that creates delicate, detailed stitch definition, perfect for showcasing the eyelet pattern work.
• Needles: Size 9 U.S. (5.5mm) straight needles for the back piece and initial construction. Size 5 U.S. (3.75mm) and size 9 U.S. (5.5mm) circular needles for yoke and other sections requiring circular knitting.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle decorative techniques. The eyelet pattern requires understanding of yarn overs, multiple decrease methods, and pattern repetition. Knitters should be comfortable reading pattern abbreviations and maintaining consistent gauge throughout the project.

Construction Method

The sweater is constructed beginning with the back piece, cast on with 157 stitches using size 9 U.S. needles. The eyelet pattern is established early and worked to 6 inches, then stitches are decreased using purl decreases (P3tog) to shape the gar