FALCONARA, cotton jumper in a hole pattern

FALCONARA Cotton Jumper in Hole Pattern

What Is Being Made

The FALCONARA is a knitted cotton jumper designed by domoras.com featuring a distinctive hole pattern throughout the garment. This intermediate-level sweater is available in four sizes ranging from small to extra-large, with chest measurements from 85 cm (33½ inches) to 118 cm (46½ inches) and finished lengths between 56 cm (22 inches) and 62 cm (24½ inches). The jumper offers optional body shaping through strategic increases and decreases, allowing knitters to customize the fit to their preference.

Knitting Techniques Used

The FALCONARA employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive aesthetic. The primary technique is hole pattern knitting, created through a specific cast-off and cast-on method that produces intentional openwork throughout the garment. According to the pattern instructions, this involves casting off five stitches without knitting them, then casting on seven stitches in their place. On the following row, the new stitches are purled together with adjacent stitches to secure the holes while preventing unwanted gaps in the fabric.

The pattern uses chart-based construction, with Chart A providing the stitch and row repeats that are worked throughout the entire piece. Knitters follow the colored section of stitches and rows repeatedly to build the garment. Optional body shaping is incorporated through strategic increasing and decreasing sequences after the bottom border, allowing intermediate knitters to customize the silhouette if desired.

Stitches Used

The FALCONARA utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined in a charted pattern:

• Knit stitch – represented by a blank square in the chart, forming the primary fabric structure
• Purl stitch – marked with an "x" symbol, creating texture and definition within the pattern
• Cast-off and cast-on sequences – the signature technique for creating the hole pattern, where stitches are strategically removed and replaced to form intentional openwork
• Decreases and increases – optional shaping stitches applied after the bottom border to contour the body if desired

Materials and Tools

The FALCONARA is designed to be worked in DK and sport weight yarn, specifically using domoras.com's ALCAMO yarn, which is composed of 100% mercerized Egyptian cotton. This natural fiber choice makes the jumper breathable and suitable for warmer seasons. Yardage requirements vary by size: small requires 3 balls, medium and large each require 4 balls, and extra-large requires 5 balls, with each ball weighing 100 grams (3½ ounces).

Two needle sizes are required to complete the garment: 2½ mm needles (UK size 12, US size 1½) for ribbed sections and 3½ mm needles (UK size 11, US size 3) for the main body. The needle size progression creates proper gauge and fabric elasticity, with the smaller needles typically used for cuffs or borders and the larger needles for the body pattern work.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, the FALCONARA is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to work from charts and manage more complex stitch techniques. The hole pattern technique requires careful attention to the cast-off and cast-on sequences, and following the charted repeats demands focus and pattern recognition. The optional body shaping adds another layer of customization that intermediate knitters can confidently execute.