Skating Away

Skating Away Cropped Pullover by Deb Hoss

What is Being Made

Skating Away is a shapely, cropped pullover sweater designed for fashionable winter wear. This intermediate-level knitting project features a distinctive cowl collar and is available in seven sizes ranging from 31 inches to 55 inches bust measurement (78.7 cm to 139.7 cm). The sweater is designed to be worn with no ease, creating a fitted silhouette that flatters the body. The cropped length and modern styling make it an ideal layering piece for cold-weather fashion.

Construction Techniques

Skating Away is worked top-down in the round, a construction method that allows knitters to try on the garment as they work and easily adjust the length. The sleeves are also worked top-down in the round and then set into the armholes. The neckline features short row shaping at the sleeve caps to create proper cap ease and a professional fit. This top-down approach combined with in-the-round circular knitting makes the project efficient and reduces the amount of finishing required.

Stitches and Shaping Details

The pattern requires intermediate knitting skills and incorporates several essential techniques:

• Cast-ons: Long-tail cast-on and cable cast-on
• Decreases: Slip, slip, knit (ssk) and knit two together (k2tog) for shaping
• Increases: Right-leaning lifted increase (RLI) and left-leaning lifted increase (LLI)
• Neckline work: Stitch pick-up around the neckline for the cowl collar
• Shaping: Short row shaping at sleeve caps for proper sleeve cap construction and setting in sleeve caps
• Finishing: Blocking to achieve final measurements and professional appearance

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Skating Away is knitted primarily in Aran weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that allows the sweater to work up quickly while maintaining excellent stitch definition. The design features a striking contrast at the neckline, where alpaca yarn in a contrasting color—specifically yellow, chosen by the designer to invite the sun—caps the cowl collar. This fiber combination creates visual interest and adds a luxurious touch to the finished garment. The pattern requires circular needles appropriate for Aran weight yarn to accommodate the top-down, in-the-round construction method.

Design Features

The cowl collar is a signature design element of this sweater, providing both style and warmth for winter wear. The contrasting alpaca neckline adds a pop of color and texture while the body remains in the primary Aran weight yarn. The cropped length and fitted silhouette created through strategic increases and decreases make this sweater versatile for layering or wearing as a standalone piece during milder winter days.