Portside

Portside Sweater by Alicia Plummer

What is Being Made

Portside is a knitted sweater designed by Alicia Plummer, available in four finished bust sizes: 30 inches (72 cm), 33 inches (83 cm), 37.5 inches (96 cm), and 41.5 inches (106 cm). This intermediate-level knitting project uses worsted weight yarn and is provided as a downloadable PDF pattern.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Portside pattern incorporates several key knitting techniques to create its finished structure. Short rows are employed in the construction, which are used to add shaping and dimension to specific areas of the garment without increasing stitch count. The pattern also utilizes a sewn bind-off technique for finishing edges, creating a professional and polished edge closure. These techniques are referenced with external tutorial links for knitters seeking additional guidance.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout Portside is stockinette stitch, which creates the classic smooth, V-textured fabric that forms the base of this sweater. The pattern establishes stitch placement using place markers (four are required) to help organize the knitting sections and maintain pattern accuracy across the different size options.

Materials and Yardage Requirements

Portside requires worsted weight yarn in quantities that vary by size: 920 yards (841 meters) for the smallest size, increasing to 1,420 yards (1,299 meters) for the largest size. The suggested yarn is Owl by Quince & Co, a blend of 50% wool and 50% alpaca, which provides warmth and softness. This yarn is available in 1.76 oz/50 gram skeins at 120 yards per skein.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for two sizes of needles to achieve proper gauge and construction:

• US 5/3.75 mm needles (DPNs or circular needles)
• US 6/4.0 mm needles (DPNs or circular needles)

Additional notions include a darning needle for weaving in ends and four place markers for tracking stitch sections.

Gauge and Blocking

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US 6/4.0 mm needles after blocking. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the finished bust measurements listed in the pattern.

Pattern Construction

The Portside pattern begins with a long-tail cast-on using larger diameter needles, with stitch counts ranging from 52 stitches for the smallest size to 78 stitches for the largest. The setup rows establish marker positions to divide the work into distinct sections, with the pattern using purl stitches to create defined edges and structural organization across the garment pieces.