Ravelston DK

The Ravelston DK pullover is a neatly fitted style with a similar silhouette and construction to the Stockbridge cardigan pattern. It has set in sleeves, relatively narrow shoulders, and side waist shaping. The waist shaping is different at front and back: there are more stitches towards the back at hip level, and more increases are worked at the front chest than the back. The armscye (armhole) and sleeve caps are also shaped differently at the front and back to more accurately follow the contours of the body.

Ravelston DK is worked from the bottom up, in the round to the underarms. The upper back and front are then worked flat with short row shoulder shaping that gives a smooth, rather than stepped, bound off edge. The bound off edges of the shoulders are then seamed together, using mattress stitch, and stitches are picked up around the armholes for the sleeves. The sleeves are worked top down with the caps shaped with short rows. The innovative short row method, used in several other patterns by Ysolda, is a refinement of Barbara Walker’s short row sleeve cap method that works better for a more fitted style like Ravelston. The number of stitches picked up around the armhole doesn’t need to equal the number required for the upper arm (a smaller circumference) so picking up the same number can result in the stitches around the pick up getting stretched out. The shaping can also be worked at different rates to create the classic bell shape of a set in sleeve cap, and asymmetrically so the front is a little more scooped out than the back.

The pattern includes instructions for two necklines, a shallow scoop and classic V. The back of the neck is also shaped for comfort. Optional short row bust shaping is included in the pattern, instructions for C/D, E/F and G/H cups.

Shown in size 44¼" with 2–4" of positive ease with E/F cup bust darts (amount of ease listed is at the chest)