Strake

Strake Drop Shouldered Dolman Pullover by Bristol Ivy

What Is Being Made

Strake is a drop shouldered dolman pullover sweater designed by Bristol Ivy. The design takes its name from a nautical term referring to a continuous line of planking on a vessel's hull, reflecting the sweater's linear construction and aesthetic. This pullover features a relaxed, comfortable fit with drop shoulders and dolman sleeves, finished with garter stitch edging throughout. The sweater is available in seven sizes ranging from 30 ¾ inches to 54 ¾ inches at the high hip, accommodating a wide range of body measurements and fit preferences.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

Strake is constructed using fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginner to intermediate knitters. The sweater is worked primarily in the round using circular needles, a method that creates seamless fabric and allows for easy stitch management. The design incorporates color work, featuring a main color paired with a contrast color that appears in strategic sections of the garment. The garter stitch edging—created by alternating knit rows when working in the round—provides a textured, decorative border that frames the neckline, cuffs, and hem. The drop shoulder construction simplifies shaping by eliminating complex armhole decreases, making this an accessible project for knitters building their skills.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch: The primary edging stitch used throughout the sweater, created by knitting every row when working flat or alternating knit and purl rounds when working in the round. This stitch creates a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges.
• Stockinette Stitch: The main fabric stitch used for the body and sleeves, created by alternating knit and purl rows to produce a smooth, V-textured surface.
• Color Work: The pattern incorporates two yarn colors (main color and contrast color) worked into the fabric, likely using stranded or intarsia techniques to create visual interest and definition.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Strake is designed to be worked in DK weight yarn, though the pattern accommodates worsted weight as an alternative. The recommended yarn is Lark by Quince & Co, a 100% American wool yarn that offers 134 yards per 50-gram skein. For the smallest size, knitters require 7 skeins of the main color (Kittywake) and 2 skeins of the contrast color (Lichen), with yardage requirements scaling upward through the size range. The total yardage needed ranges from 938 yards of main color and 268 yards of contrast color for the smallest size to 1,608 yards of main color and 402 yards of contrast color for the largest size.

The pattern calls for US size 8 (5 mm) circular needles in multiple lengths to accommodate different sections of the sweater. Knitters will need one 32-inch circular needle for working the body in the round, one 16-inch circular needle for working the neckline and sleeve caps, and a set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) for working the sleeve cuffs and finishing details. Stitch markers and yarn bobbins or other color management tools are recommended notions for managing the color work sections of this project.