Pocomoke

Pocomoke Pullover by Donna Estin Designs

Project Overview

The Pocomoke Pullover is a seamlessly constructed knit sweater designed by Donna Estin that draws inspiration from Furnace Town, a historic abandoned village hidden within Maryland's ancient Pocomoke Forest. This intermediate-level pullover combines traditional lace patterns with modern stockinette stitch in a classic fitted silhouette, making it an ideal project for knitters seeking to blend vintage design elements with contemporary construction techniques.

What Is Being Made

This is a women's pullover sweater available in eight sizes ranging from Small through 5X, with finished bust circumferences from 34 inches to 62 inches. The sweater features a standard fitting design worked seamlessly from the bottom up, creating a polished, professional finish without the need for seaming.

Construction Techniques

• Seamless bottom-up construction: The sweater is knit in the round from the lower body upward, eliminating the need for seaming and creating clean, continuous lines throughout the garment
• Short-row sleeve caps: The sleeve caps are shaped using short-row shaping techniques, which create smooth, fitted armholes and allow for proper sleeve cap ease without bulk
• Lace pattern integration: The design incorporates both Trellis Lace and Forest Chart patterns that are strategically combined with stockinette stitch sections for visual interest and texture variation

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Stockinette stitch (St st): Forms the primary fabric base, creating a smooth, classic knit surface that showcases the yarn's color and texture
• Trellis Lace pattern: A traditional lace motif that adds delicate openwork details to the design
• Forest Chart pattern: A charted stitch pattern that likely incorporates the thematic forest inspiration of the sweater's namesake

Materials and Specifications

This pattern is designed for DK weight yarn, a versatile medium yarn weight that knits to a refined gauge. The pattern requires two needle sizes to accommodate the different gauges of the various stitch patterns:

• Stockinette stitch gauge: 23 stitches and 34 rounds over 4 inches (10 cm) with smaller needles, after blocking
• Trellis Lace gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rounds over 4 inches (10 cm) with smaller needles, after blocking
• Forest Chart gauge: 24 stitches and 30 rounds over 4 inches (10 cm) with larger needles, after blocking

Accurate gauge checking is emphasized as essential before beginning the project, ensuring proper fit across all size options.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are comfortable working in the round, reading stitch charts, managing multiple stitch patterns, and executing short-row shaping techniques. The seamless construction and lace elements require attention to detail and pattern reading ability.

Designer and Format

The Pocomoke Pullover is designed by Donna Estin Designs, an independent knitwear designer. This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing immediate access to the complete pattern instructions and charts for digital viewing or printing.