The Orchard Pullover is a versatile and stylish knit, ideal for layering on breezy summer evenings or crisp autumn days. This fitted raglan pullover is worked from the bottom up, featuring a delicate blossom motif that adds a touch of elegance to its clean lines. The three-quarter-length sleeves provide comfort and sophistication, making this piece a timeless addition to your wardrobe. Knit in a soft gray hue like “Fallen Cloud,” this pullover pairs beautifully with everything from jeans to skirts, offering endless styling options.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: XS (S, M, L, XL, XXL) to fit bust 30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50)”/ 76 (86, 96, 106, 117, 127) cm; positive ease 0-1” (0-2.5см)
Gauge: Width of a blossom pattern panel is 7,7” (20 cm)
21 sts and 28 rows = 4” square, in St st using US 7 (4.5 mm) needles
Materials
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK (100% merino; 225 yards [205 meters]/100 grams): Fallen Cloud (5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins)
Needles: US size 7 (4.5 mm) 32” or longer circular needles for yoke and body; US size 7 (4.5 mm) DPN for Sleeves; US size 6 (4.0 mm) 16” circular needles; US size 6 (4.0 mm) 32” or longer circular; US size 6 (4.0 mm) DPNs
Notions: 5 Markers (1 different color to indicate beginning of rnd, tapestry needle
Special Stitches
k1tbl: Knit 1 st through back loop (the knit st is twisted).
p1tbl: Purl 1 st through back loop (the purl st is twisted).
kfb: Knit through front loop then through back loop of the same stitch.
pfb: Purl through front loop then through back loop of the same stitch.
W&T: Bring working yarn to front of work, slip next st on RN, bring working yarn to back, “wrapping” this slipped stitch, slip stitch from RN back to LN, turn work.
“wrapped st”: A stitch, that has been slipped and “wrapped” when you did W&T.
W2: Holding yarn to the back of work, *slip next 4 sts from LN on to RN, bring yarn to front, slip these 4 sts back to LN, bring yarn to back, pull lightly (the wrap should measure 1cm), repeat from * 1 time more, k4.
W4: Holding yarn to the back of work, *slip next 4 sts from LN on to RN, bring yarn to front, slip these 4 sts back to LN, bring yarn to back, pull lightly (the wrap should measure 1cm), repeat from * 3 times more, k4.
Pattern Notes
This is a close-fitting pullover worked seamlessly from the bottom up.
Pattern
Body – Ribbed Hem
With US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles and using cable cast on method, CO 90 (100, 110, 122, 132, 144) sts, PM, CO 90 (100, 110, 122, 132, 144) sts, PM (different color) to indicate beginning of rnd. Join to work in the rnd, being extra careful not to twist sts. (180 (200, 220, 244, 264, 288) sts on the needles)
Set-up Rnd 1 (RS): *K1tbl [1 (0, 1, 1, 0, 0)] time, (p1, k1tbl) to 1 (0, 1, 1, 0, 0) sts before marker, p1 (0, 1, 1, 0, 0), sm; rep from * once more.
Work 1×1 twisted rib as est until piece meas 3” (8 cm) from CO edge.
Lower Body
Set-up Rnd 1: *[K7 (9, 10, 12, 14, 15), k2tog] twice, k until there are 19 (24, 29, 35, 40, 46) sts on RN, PM (beginning of Orchard Pattern Panel), (p1, k1tbl) 4 times, pfb, (k1tbl, p1) 7 times, k1tbl, pfb, (k1tbl, p1) 7 times, k1tbl, pfb, (k1tbl, p1) 4 times, PM (end of Orchard Pattern Panel), k to marker (side marker), decreasing evenly 2 sts; rep from * once more. (178 (198, 218, 242, 262, 286) sts on needles)
Change to US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles.
Next Rnd: *K to marker, sm, work Row 1 of Central Panel Chart, sm, k to marker, sm; rep from * once more.
Dec Rnd: *K1, ssk, k to marker, sm, work next row of Central Panel Chart, sm, k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, sm; rep from* once more. (4 sts dec’d)
Cont in pattern as est, working Dec Rnd every 6th rnd 4 (4, 2, 2, 3, 3) times more, then every 8th rnd 1 (1, 3, 3, 3, 3) times more. (154 (174, 194, 218, 234, 258) sts on the needles)
After working last Dec Rnd, work even until piece measures 8.25, (8.25, 8.5, 8.5, 9, 9)” [21 (21, 22, 22, 23, 23) cm] from CO edge.
Inc Rnd: *K1, M1R, k to marker, sm, work next row of Central Panel Chart, sm, k to 1 st before marker, M1L, k1, sm; rep from * once more. (4 sts inc’d)
Rep Inc Rnd every 6th rnd 4 (3, 2, 2, 3, 3) times more, then every 8th rnd 1 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3) times more. (178 (198, 218, 242, 262, 286) sts on the needles)
Work even until piece measures 13.75 (14, 14.5, 15, 15, 15)” [35 (36, 37, 38, 38, 38) cm] from CO edge, ending with an odd number of the Orchard Pattern Panel.
Upper Body
Divide Front and Back for armholes.
Next RS Rnd (even-numbered row of Orchard Pattern Panel): BO next 4 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8) sts, work in pattern to 4 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8) sts before next side marker, place sts just worked on a stitch holder (Back), BO next 8 (12, 12, 14, 14, 16) sts, work to 4 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8) sts before end of rnd, BO last 4 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8) sts. (81 (87, 97, 107, 117, 127) sts on hold for front and the same number for Back)
Set Body aside and work both sleeves.
Sleeves (Make Two)
With US 6 (4.0 mm) needles (DPNs or short circular needles) and using cable cast on method, CO 44 (48, 52, 52, 56, 58) sts. PM and join to work in the rnd, being extra careful not to twist sts.
Rnd 1 (RS): *K1tbl, p1; rep from * to marker.
Rep last rnd, working 1×1 twisted rib for 3”.
Knit 1 rnd.
Change to US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles.
Knit 1 rnd.
Inc Rnd: K1, M1R, k to 1 st before marker, M1L, k1, sm. (2 sts inc’d)
Rep Inc Rnd every 10 (6, 8, 6, 6, 4)th rnd 5 (3, 7, 9, 10, 3) times more, then every 0 (8, 0, 0, 0, 6)th rnd 0 (5, 0, 0, 0, 8) times. (56 (66, 68, 72, 78, 82) sts on the needles)
Work even until piece measures 13.75 (15, 15, 15, 15.25, 15.25)” [35 (38, 38, 38, 39, 39) cm] from CO rnd.
Next Rnd: Knit to 4 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8) sts before marker, BO next 8 (12, 12, 14, 14, 16) sts, removing marker. (48 (54, 56, 58, 64, 66) sts on the needles)
Place live stitches on hold and work second sleeve.
Yoke
With RS facing, place 81 (87, 97, 107, 117, 127) Front sts on US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles, PM, place 48 (54, 56, 58, 64, 66) Sleeve sts on needles, PM, place 81 (87, 97, 107, 117, 127) Back sts on needled, PM, place 48 (54, 56, 58, 64, 66) Sleeve sts on needles, PM to indicate beg of rnd, join to work in the rnd. (258 (282, 306, 330, 362, 386) sts on needles)
(NOTE: Orchard Pattern Panel markers should also be transferred on to working circular needles).
Next Rnd (RS): *K1, k2tog, k to marker, sm, work next row of Orchard Pattern Panel, sm, k to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before next marker, ssk, k1, sm; rep from * once more. (8 sts dec’d)
Next Rnd: *Knit to marker, sm, work next row of Orchard Pattern Panel, sm, (knit to marker) twice; rep from * once more.
Rep last two rnds 7 (8, 8, 11, 11, 13) times more. (65 (69, 79, 83, 93, 99) sts for Front and Back; 32 (36, 38, 34, 40, 38) sts for each Sleeves on the needles)
Next Rnd: *K to marker, sm, work next row of Orchard Pattern Panel, sm, k to marker, sm, k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before next marker, ssk, k1, sm; rep from * once more. (4 sts dec’d)
Next Rnd: *K to marker, sm work next row of Orchard Pattern Panel, sm, (k to marker) twice; rep from * once more.
Rep last two rnds 4 times more. (65 (69, 79, 83, 93, 99) sts for Front and Back; 22 (26, 28, 24, 30, 28) sts for each Sleeve on the needles)
Next Rnd: *K1, k2tog,k to marker, sm, work next row of Orchard Pattern Panel, sm, k to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, sm, rep from * once more. (8 sts dec’d)
Next Rnd: *K1, k2tog, k to marker, sm, work next row of Orchard Pattern Panel, sm, k to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, sm, k to marker, sm; rep from * once more. (4 sts dec’d)
Rep last 2 rnds 3 times more. (49 (53, 63, 67, 77, 83) sts for Front and Back; 14 (18, 20, 16, 22, 20) sts for each Sleeve on the needles)
Next Rnd: *K1, k2tog, k to marker, sm, work next row of Orchard Pattern Panel, sm, k to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, sm, rep from * once more. (8 sts dec’d). (47 (51, 61, 65, 75, 81) sts for Front and Back; 12 (16, 18, 14, 20, 18) sts for each Sleeve on the needles)
Neckline Shaping
Mark center Front 28 (32, 32, 36, 36, 40) sts.
NOTE: There are no further mentions of Orchard Pattern Panel, but continue to work as established to of work.
Short-row 1 (RS): Work in patterns to marked Front sts, W&T.
Short-row 2 (WS): Work in patterns to marked Front sts, W&T.
Short-row 3: Work in pattern to 3 sts before Sleeve marker, ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog, work in patterns to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog, work in pattern to 4 (5, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts to wrapped st, W&T.
Short-row 4: Work in patterns to 4 (5, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts to last wrapped st, W&T.
Short-row 5: Work in patterns making raglan decreases as in Rnd 3 to 3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts before wrapped st, W&T.
Short-row 6: Work in patterns to 3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5) sts before last wrapped st, W&T.
Rep last 2 rnds until you reach Back raglan and it’s impossible to work short-rows without working Back sts, ending with a WS row.
Change to US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles.
Work in 1×1 twisted rib for 5 rnds.
BO all sts in pattern.
I printed off the pattern for the Orchard pullover some time ago and did not get the charts Can you help
This should be fixed now, please let me know if you are still experiencing issues. – Nicola, Editor
I love this pattern, but there appears to be a mistake in the first chart. The two halves should be mirror images, with stitches 1 to 26 being a mirror of 27 to 52.
As you can see stitches 2 & 3 and 36 & 37 in lines 5 and upwards are reversed. The pattern rom rows 33 to 64 appear to be correct
Hello! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor
I have just commenced this pattern and would like to know how to do ‘\’ – the legend says ask (slip,slip, knit) but in the graph it is only one stitch.
Please explain. I consider myself an experienced knitter but have not come across this before!
HELP
Hello Gwen! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor
What does PM mean? Also, can I easily make this longer?
Hello Diane! PM means “place marker”. I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor
Love this. Straight onto my to do list
Such a beautiful pattern! I don’t want a close fit below the bust, so I’ll do a bit of playing with the numbers, but this will be on my to-do list.
What would be the concerns for making this longer than the pattern.
Hello! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor
Nice pattern no chart!
Hi Sally! The charts are on the right hand side of the pattern underneath the photos. You can also click on these links below to access:
https://www.ilikeknitting.com/wp-content/uploads/Orchard-Pullover-Chart-1.png
https://www.ilikeknitting.com/wp-content/uploads/Orchard-Pullover-Chart-2.png
https://www.ilikeknitting.com/wp-content/uploads/Orchard-Panel-Pattern-Chart.jpg
https://www.ilikeknitting.com/wp-content/uploads/Orchard-Pullover-Schematic.jpg
Let me know if you have any other questions, thanks! – Nicola
I would really like to knit this top but don’t like charts.. do you have them in written form? if so I would greatly appreicate it.. am sure others would as well.. and just to say. would be nice to have both chart for those that enjoy charts and in writen form for us that don’t like charts..
Thank You
Keep Safe
Vera
Hello Vera! Unfortunately, there is only a chart for the lace pattern, no written instructions. Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with! – Nicola