Ilha

ILHA Pullover Sweater by Tête Bêche Designs

What Is Being Made

ILHA is a delicate and poetic pullover sweater designed by Orlane Sucche for Tête Bêche Designs. The sweater draws inspiration from the traditional Portuguese art of basket weaving from the village of Ilha, translating this cultural craft into a knitted textile design. This is a top-down, in-the-round construction that combines textured yoke work with a fitted body, creating a garment with both visual interest and wearable comfort.

Construction and Shaping Techniques

ILHA employs a top-down, in-the-round knitting method, beginning with the yoke at the shoulders and working downward to complete the body and sleeves. The yoke features a delicate textured pattern reminiscent of braiding and weaving, establishing the sweater's distinctive aesthetic. Raglan increases are used to shape the yoke, creating well-defined armholes and a comfortable fit through the shoulders and upper body.

Once the yoke shaping is complete, the sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the body continues to be knitted in the round. The sides of the body are adorned with pretty braids that become visible and add visual movement when the wearer moves. The ribbed edges throughout the design are highlighted by broken lines of twist stitches, adding refined textural detail to the garment's finishing.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Textured yoke stitches: A set of stitches that evoke the braiding and weaving techniques of traditional basket weaving
• Stockinette stitch: Used throughout the body for lightness and drape
• Braids: Decorative side braids that create visual interest and movement
• Twist stitches: Broken lines of twist stitches highlight the ribbed edges
• Ribbing: Used for edges and cuffs to provide structure and elasticity

Materials and Yarn

ILHA is designed to be worked in 4-ply yarn weight, which provides the ideal balance of stitch definition and drape for this design. The pattern is created in collaboration with Rosa Pomar, and the ALJORXE yarn from this producer is specifically recommended. The yarn's beautiful stitch definition allows the textured stitches of the yoke and braids to be clearly visible and well-defined, while its lightness and nice drape enhance the stockinette sections, resulting in a sweater that is both visually striking and comfortable to wear.

Skill Level

This sweater is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience. The combination of textured stitch patterns, top-down construction, raglan shaping, and in-the-round knitting requires solid foundational skills and familiarity with intermediate techniques.

Pattern Format

ILHA is available as a downloadable PDF pattern from Tête Bêche Designs, allowing knitters to access the complete instructions immediately upon purchase.