Polaire

Polaire Tunic by Julliana Lund

Design Overview

The Polaire Tunic is a sophisticated spring knitting project inspired by the straight silhouettes of 1920s fashion, reimagined with contemporary waist shaping for a flattering fit. This downloadable knitting pattern offers a versatile garment suitable for both casual spring wear and dressier occasions like holiday parties. The design balances vintage aesthetics with modern construction techniques, making it an intermediate-level knitting project.

What Is Being Made

The Polaire is a tunic-length top available in seven finished bust sizes: 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50, and 54 inches. The pattern accommodates a suggested ease of 0–2 inches, allowing knitters to customize the fit. The tunic features a modified V-neckline finished with eyelet trim and scalloped lace detailing at both the hem and armholes, adding delicate feminine touches to the otherwise streamlined silhouette.

Knitting Techniques

• Invisible Provisional Cast-on: This advanced cast-on method allows for seamless integration of the scalloped lace hem, creating a polished finished edge without visible seaming at the cast-on edge.
• Lace Construction: Scalloped lace patterns are incorporated at the hem and armholes, requiring attention to yarn overs and decreases to create the decorative openwork.
• Waist Shaping: Strategic increases and decreases throughout the body create the fitted waist silhouette that modernizes the vintage 1920s straight-line inspiration.
• Eyelet Trim: The modified V-neck is finished with eyelet detailing, a technique involving small decorative holes created through yarn overs.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch used for the main body of the tunic, worked at a gauge of 22 stitches over 4 inches.
• Lace Stitches: Yarn overs and decreases create the scalloped lace patterns at the hem, armholes, and neckline trim.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Polaire is designed to be knit in a drapey sport-weight yarn. The pattern sample was created using Knit Picks Galileo, a blend of 50% Merino Wool and 50% Viscose from Bamboo, shown in the colorway "Valentine." This yarn provides 131 yards per 50-gram ball. Yardage requirements vary by size: approximately 600 yards for the smallest size (30 inches bust) up to 1,300 yards for the largest size (54 inches bust). The pattern specifies worsted weight yarn equivalency for yardage calculations.

Tools and Notions

• Needles: US 3 / 3.25 mm circular needle (sized to achieve the specified gauge)
• Additional Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch holders for managing live stitches, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and scrap yarn for the provisional cast-on technique

Skill Level and Gauge

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, suitable for knitters with experience in basic techniques who are ready to tackle lace construction and garment shaping. The gauge is 22 stitches equals 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements and drape of the final garment.