As the sun warms the earth, sprouts grow bold, unfurling into dramatic wide-leafed hostas, bright happy tulips, and beautifully complex ferns. Julie Hoover’s Arie takes a cue from new life, with a simple pleat at the neckline that unfolds and billows, transforming this comfortable top into a work of natural beauty.

Julie Hoover For Purl Soho: Arie | Purl Soho

You knit the Arie in two pieces from the bottom up, working the fold into the bottom of the V before shaping the neckline and armholes. Once seamed and finished, the shape of the sleeves curves beautifully down the shoulders and around the arms. A split hem that dips a bit lower in the back and a graceful, seed stitch V-neck complete the thoughtful details. 

Julie Hoover For Purl Soho: Arie | Purl Soho
Julie Hoover For Purl Soho: Arie | Purl Soho

For this knitting pattern you can choose either Linen Quill (above) or Cattail Silk (below), two of our favorite yarns for natural charm. Linen Quill combines fine wool, alpaca, and linen into a yarn that is wonderfully rustic, but still soft. Available in an astounding range of colors, Linen Quill creates a lightweight garment, a bit cozier and squishier than the silk. It’s perfect as a cold-weather layer or on its own when the evening air or sea breeze might call for a bit of warmth.

Julie Hoover For Purl Soho: Arie | Purl Soho

Cattail Silk is a 100% silk yarn that has an earthy texture and soft shine, lending it a casual elegance that’s perfect for any occasion. It leads to a light and airy Arie with a gorgeous drape, and will keep you cool on a summer’s day. Whichever yarn you choose, you’ll love knitting and wearing this down-to-earth beauty!

Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!

Julie Hoover For Purl Soho: Arie | Purl Soho

Designed for Purl Soho by Julie Hoover. Currently based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Julie Hoover designs knitwear and makes yarn, for both her own personal label and others. Her work reflects a lifelong passion for clothing and textiles, and her view that knitting is a beautiful way of creating timeless fashion, a thoughtful mix of quality and creativity, intention and care.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoArie, #PurlSohoLinenQuill and #PurlSohoCattailSilk. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Julie Hoover For Purl Soho: Arie | Purl Soho
  • 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) (3, 3, 4, 4) skeins of Purl Soho’s Cattail Silk, 100% silk yarn. Each skein of this fingering weight yarn is 618 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 970 (1080, 1220, 1360, 1490) (1685, 1850, 2045, 2220) yards required. We used the color Thin Cloud Gray.

OR

Julie Hoover For Purl Soho: Arie | Purl Soho
  • 2 (3, 3, 3, 4) (4, 4, 5, 5) skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. Each skein of this fingering weight yarn is 439 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 875 (985, 1115, 1240, 1355) (1535, 1690, 1865, 2025) yards required. We used the color Fresh Pickle.

You’ll also need…

GAUGE

25 stitches and 38 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

SIZES

NOTE: For help deciding which size to knit, please visit our Understanding Ease + Selecting Your Size tutorial.

39¾ (43½, 47¼, 51¼, 55) (59, 62¾, 66½, 70½)

To fit actual chest circumference of 29–33 (33–37, 37–41, 41–45, 45–49) (49–53, 53–57, 57–61, 61–63) inches, with approximately 6–10 inches of ease

  • Finished Chest Circumference: 39¾ (43½, 47¼, 51¼, 55) (59, 62¾, 66½, 70½) inches
  • Finished Hip Circumference: 43¼ (47¼, 51, 55, 58¾) (62½, 66½, 70¼, 74) inches
  • Finished Length From Shoulder To Bottom Edge: 24¾ (25¼, 26¼, 27, 27½) (29, 30, 31¼, 32) inches

Samples: The sweaters pictured here are size 43½, worn with 9½ inches of ease.

PATTERN

Julie Hoover For Purl Soho: Arie | Purl Soho

The Arie Pattern is available for purchase as a PDF download only.

Julie Hoover For Purl Soho: Arie | Purl Soho
Julie Hoover For Purl Soho: Arie | Purl Soho

LEARN ABOUT CATTAIL SILK + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS

We used Cattail Silk for this pattern because its earthy, natural beauty brings a light drape and offhanded elegance to your knitting. A 100% mulberry silk yarn, Cattail Silk has a rustic spin with bitty nubs and very subtle variations in texture. Choose from a lovely bouquet of colors, and cast on with this fingering-weight yarn for a truly compelling knit!

More Free Knitting Patterns

More Fingering-Weight Yarns

More Yarns With Similar Fibers

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!