We share a heart, Penelope

We Share a Heart, Penelope Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

We Share a Heart, Penelope is a knitted sweater designed by bunnymuff (Mona Zillah). This intermediate-level pullover features colorwork detailing and is worked in the round using circular needles, making it an accessible project for knitters with some experience. The design showcases a two-color palette with a main color and contrasting accent color, creating visual interest through strategic color placement.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques to achieve its finished design:

• Backwards loop cast-on — A simple cast-on method worked by placing loops directly onto the right hand needle, created by picking up the working yarn over your index finger from back to front and slipping stitches onto the needle
• Circular knitting — The sweater is constructed in the round using circular needles, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates seamless fabric
• German Short Row (German Turn and Work/GTW) — An advanced shaping technique that creates nearly invisible short rows, used here for refined shaping without visible jogs or gaps
• Miraculous Elastic Bind Off — A specialized bind-off method recommended for this project that provides stretch and flexibility at the edges
• Colorwork knitting — The pattern incorporates two colors (main color and contrasting color) worked into the design

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create the sweater structure. While the PDF content focuses on cast-on and bind-off techniques, the main fabric is constructed using stockinette stitch as the base, with colorwork elements integrated throughout. The gauge is established at 26 stitches by 30 rounds over 4 inches, which is essential for achieving proper fit across the multiple size options available.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern calls for Shetland Spindrift by Jamieson's of Shetland, a fingering-weight yarn composed of 100% Shetland wool. Each ball yields approximately 115 yards (105 meters) per 25 grams.

Yarn quantities vary by size:

• Main Color (Petrol): 9 to 18 balls depending on size
• Contrasting Color (Salmon): 2 to 6 balls depending on size

Needles required:

• 2.75mm (US No. 2) circular needle, 24 inches/60 centimeters, plus double-pointed needles for bind-off
• 3.25mm (US No. 3) circular needle, 40 inches/101 centimeters, plus double-pointed needles for sleeves

The use of Shetland wool provides excellent elasticity and warmth, making it ideal for a fitted sweater design. The fingering weight allows for detailed colorwork while maintaining reasonable yardage requirements. Multiple needle sizes accommodate the different sections of the sweater, with smaller needles for ribbing or fitted areas and larger needles for the main body.

Pattern Support

Designer Mona Zillah provides pattern support at mona8pi@gmail.com for knitters working through this intermediate project.