Popham

Popham Knit Top by Alicia Plummer

What is Being Made

Popham is a children's knit top designed by independent designer Alicia Plummer. This downloadable knitting pattern is available in five sizes to fit chest measurements of 21, 23, 25, 26.5, and 28 inches (53, 58.5, 63.5, 67, and 71 centimeters), making it suitable for children ages 2 through 10 years. The garment is constructed from the bottom up, creating a classic fitted children's top with textured stitch details.

Knitting Techniques Used

Popham incorporates several intermediate-level knitting techniques that add visual interest and construction complexity to the finished garment. The pattern employs short rows, a shaping technique that allows for custom fit and dimensional construction without increasing or decreasing stitches in traditional ways. Knitters will also use grafting, a seaming method that creates invisible joins between knitted sections, resulting in a professional, seamless finish. The pattern includes detailed technique links to external resources for knitters who need guidance on these methods, directing to Knitty.com tutorials for both short row and grafting techniques.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout Popham is stockinette stitch, the fundamental knit fabric that forms the base of the garment. The pattern features a decorative Cobblestones stitch pattern with an 18-stitch repeat that can be worked using either a provided chart or written row-by-row instructions. The Cobblestones pattern alternates between knit rounds and a combination of knit and purl stitches (k9, p5, k4 in Round 5, for example), creating a textured, dimensional surface that contrasts with smooth stockinette sections.

Materials: Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The pattern recommends Chickadee by Quince & Co as the suggested yarn, which provides 181 yards (166 meters) per 50-gram skein. Yardage requirements vary by size: 320 yards for the smallest size (2 years) up to 720 yards for the largest size (10 years). The pattern is worked on US size 5/3.75 millimeter needles, available in either double-pointed needle (DPN) or circular needle formats depending on knitter preference. The recommended gauge is 24 stitches and 28 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch after blocking, which is essential for achieving proper fit across all five sizes. Additional notions required include one place marker for tracking pattern repeats and a darning needle for weaving in yarn ends.

Difficulty Level

Popham is classified as an intermediate knitting project, appropriate for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to expand their technique repertoire. The combination of short rows, grafting, and stitch pattern work makes this pattern suitable for experienced beginners or intermediate-level crafters seeking to develop new skills.