Linnae pullover

Linnae Pullover by Bristol Ivy

What is Being Made

The Linnae pullover is a classic knitted sweater designed by Bristol Ivy that combines Scandinavian design principles, 1960's mod fashion influences, and clean, tailored lines. This bottom-up construction sweater features waist shaping and a raglan yoke, making it a timeless, modern addition to any wardrobe. The design is available in ten different finished bust circumference sizes, ranging from 34 ½ inches to 62 ¾ inches, accommodating a wide range of body measurements.

Construction and Techniques

The Linnae pullover is constructed using the bottom-up knitting method, which means knitting begins at the lower edge and progresses upward toward the neckline. This approach allows for easy try-on and fit adjustments during the knitting process. The sweater incorporates waist shaping to create a tailored, fitted silhouette that flatters the body. The raglan yoke construction is a classic sweater-building technique where the sleeves are increased gradually from the armholes to the neckline, creating diagonal seam lines from the underarm to the neck. A simple and fun fair isle detail adds visual interest and texture to the design, using a secondary color to create a traditional stranded colorwork pattern.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the provided pattern excerpt, the Linnae pullover employs fair isle colorwork, a stranded knitting technique that involves carrying two yarn colors across the row to create a patterned fabric. This intermediate-level technique requires managing multiple colors simultaneously while maintaining consistent tension and stitch gauge. The fair isle detail adds both aesthetic appeal and structural integrity to the finished garment.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Linnae pullover is knit using Chickadee by Quince & Co., a yarn composed of 100% American wool with a yardage of 181 yards per 50-gram skein. The main color (MC) is Kittywake 151, requiring between 7 and 12 skeins depending on the finished size selected. The contrast color (CC) is Bird's Egg 106, requiring between 2 and 4 skeins. The sport weight yarn classification makes this an ideal choice for a fitted, refined sweater with good stitch definition.

Needles: The pattern calls for multiple needle sizes and types to accommodate different stages of construction. Two 32-inch circular needles are required—one in US size 4 (3.5 mm) for ribbing and one in US size 5 (3.75 mm) for the main body fabric. Additionally, one set of double-pointed needles (dpns) in US size 4 (3.5 mm) is needed for working the ribbed cuffs and neckline in the round.

Difficulty Level

The Linnae pullover is classified as an intermediate knitting project. This difficulty rating reflects the combination of techniques required: bottom-up construction, waist shaping, raglan yoke increases, and fair isle colorwork. Knitters should be comfortable with circular needle techniques, reading charts, and managing multiple yarn colors before beginning this project.