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Ainur Berkimbay For Purl Soho: Petunia Pullover
Stripes radiate out from the circular yoke of this riveting sweater pattern like the petals of a blossoming petunia. Designed with Ainur Berkimbay’s signature creative spirit, her Petunia Pullover in our wildly popular Linen Quill yarn is a super fun knit!
Ainur’s love of geometry and math always complements her whimsical sense of color and form… And the Petunia Pullover is no exception! You’ll knit this garter-stitch sweater sideways, stripe by stripe and all in one piece, starting from the center back with a provisional cast-on (we have a great tutorial!). One end of each stripe has short-row shaping (yep, we have a tutorial for that, too!) to form the yoke.
It’s easier knitting than you may think and full of satisfying surprises! With sizes for toddlers, kids, pre-teens, and adults, little ones can grow into new sizes and everyone can get in on the action.
Ainur chose Linen Quill for this sweater because of its amazing petal-like drape and airy lightness. A mix of highland wool and alpaca, with just a bit of rustic linen, this fingering-weight yarn’s complexity and beauty make for a singularly appealing knit.
There are 60+ shades of Linen Quill to choose from, so you can really play. Pick two that sing, like we did for our samples, or go wild and make every stripe a different color!
If you love the spoke-like stripes and clever shaping and want to try them out in a smaller accessory, check out Ainur’s beloved Carousel Collection, where she used the same German short rows and joyful spirit to make striped hats, mittens, slippers, wraps, and scarves.
Cute, clever, creative, and colorful… Petunia Pullovers for everyone, please!
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!
Pattern designed and written by Ainur Berkimbay for Purl Soho. Ainur sees the unique constraints of knitting as opportunities rather than limitations. Using her remarkable ingenuity and love of geometry, she designs beautiful and adventurous pieces for knitters who share her enthusiasm for shape, texture, and adventure. See more from Ainur on her website!
Story written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.
Materials
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.
- ADULT
- Color A: 2 (2, 2, 2, 3) (3, 3, 3, 4) skeins; approximately 625 (690, 810, 878, 1010) (1100, 1205, 1300, 1490) total yards required
- Color B: 2 (2, 2, 2, 3) (3, 3, 3, 4) skeins; approximately 584 (623, 738, 780, 907) (982, 1120, 1192, 1321) total yards required
- CHILD
- Color A: 1 (1, 1, 1) (2, 2, 2) skein(s); approximately 280 (335, 385, 439) (495, 545, 610) total yards required
- Color B: 1 (1, 1, 1) (1, 2, 2) skein(s); approximately 237 (283, 330, 385) (435, 481, 542) total yards required
For our samples we used . . .
- Child, 2 Years: Color A, Fresh Nutmeg + Color B, Peachy Pink
- Child, 4 Years: Color A, Bright Flamingo + Color B, Peony Pink
- Adult, 41¾: Color A, Bird’s Egg Blue + Color B, Kiln Red
You’ll also need . . .
- US 5 (3.75 mm), 32-inch circular knitting needles
- Spare US 5, 32-inch circular knitting needles
- US 5, 16-inch circular knitting needles
- A set of US 5 double pointed needles, or long circulars for magic loop
- A stitch marker
- Stitch holders or scrap yarn
- Scrap yarn and crochet hook for Provisional Cast On
- A Petunia Pullover Pattern
GAUGE
22 stitches and 46 rows (23 ridges) = 4 inches in garter stitch
NOTE: Because this garment is worked sideways, you must match row gauge as well as stitch gauge in order to achieve the intended measurements. For best results, dry your swatch hanging along a selvage (rather than flat). This recreates how you will wear the sweater and will give you a more accurate gauge.
SIZES
ADULT
37½ (41¾, 43¾, 49, 54¼) (57½, 60½, 64¾, 68¾)
To fit actual chest circumference of approximately: 30–32 (33–35, 36–39, 40–43, 44–47) (48–51, 52 55, 56–59, 60–62) inches, with approximately 5–8 inches of ease
- Finished Chest Circumference: 37½ (41¾, 44¾, 49, 54¼) (57½, 60½, 64¾, 68¾) inches
- Finished Length from Neck to Bottom Edge: 18½ (18½, 20½, 20½, 22½) (22½, 24½, 24½, 26½) inches
- Finished Sleeve Length from Underarm: 11 inches
Sample: The sweater shown here is size 41¾, worn with 8¾ inches of ease.
CHILD
2 (4, 6, 8) (10, 12, 14) Years
To fit actual chest circumference of approximately: 21 (23, 25, 26½) (28, 30, 31) inches, with approximately 3–5 inches of ease
- Finished Chest Circumference: 25 (26, 29¼, 31¼) (32¼, 33½, 35½) inches
- Finished Length from Neck to Bottom Edge: 11¾ (13, 14, 15¼) (16¼, 17½, 18¼) inches
- Finished Sleeve Length from Underarm: 6¾ (7½, 8¼, 9) (9½, 10¼, 11) inches
Samples: The sweaters shown here are sizes 2 Years and 4 Years, both worn with 3 inches of ease.
PATTERN
The Petunia Pullover Pattern is available for purchase as a PDF download.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Learn About Linen Quill + All Our Beautiful Yarns
We designed this project to highlight the uniquely beautiful qualities of our Linen Quill, a wonderful fingering-weight yarn that is a blend of 50% wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. It feels amazing in your hands, and in 70 jaw-droppingly gorgeous colors, Linen Quill is the candy store of yarn! Want to play with lots of those amazing colors? Check out our Linen Quill Minis, available in 40- and 20- color bundles!
More Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Linen Quill knitting patterns and cast on!
More Fingering-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-weight yarns (What does fingering-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to fingering-weight yarn will answer your questions and more!)
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial and our Yarn Substitution article for lots of helpful information.
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop wool yarn
- Shop alpaca yarn
- Shop linen yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of 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!
Hello! Any guidelines for making the sleeves full length instead of 3/4?
Hi Margot,
To add length to the sleeves, you can cast on more stitches in the sleeve sections. With the gauge of the pattern, you will add 5.5 stitches for every inch you’d like to add.
Happy making,
Gavriella
This looks gorgeous! Would this work with Line Weight?
And in general, would Line Weight make a good replacement for any of the patterns calling for Linen Quill? (specifically, I have the Daily Pullover by Paula Pereira)
Thank you!
Hi SJ,
We’re so happy you’re a fan of this pattern! Line Weight would be wonderful for the Petunia Pullover and the Daily Pullover as well! Both Line Weight and Linen Quill are fingering weight yarns so they’re a good match in terms of gauge, but I highly recommend knitting a gauge swatch if substituting for Line Weight just to be safe and to double check the needle size you need to get gauge. We have a guide on gauge called All About Gauge in case you’d like more information. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat
Hi, I’d love to make this sweater for my two little nieces, aged 3 and 4. Can you suggest some other fun color combinations that little blonde girls would look good in? I have a hard time deciding online what colors would go well together.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Gretchen,
Thanks for writing in! I think Lychee Pink and Butterscotch yellow would be wonderful together! Another option would be to choose two of their favorite colors.
Happy making,
Gavriella
What colors go with mountain bluebird for a girl? Would peony pink work?
Hi Nancy,
Peony Pink would be perfect with Mountain Bluebird! I think they will pair wonderfully!
All the best,
Gavriella
Just started this pattern and have a question… in “Set Up” Short Row 3, after you make the double stitch, do you purl across the rest of the row as shown in the online tutorial, or do you turn the work back around and knit to the end of the row? And if so, would that count as Short Row 4?
Hi Frances,
Each time you make the double stitch, you will need to turn your work in order to do so. From there you can continue working in the same direction of your work meaning your work is already turned at that point. Since this pattern consists of all knit stitches, you will knit the rest of the row.
All the best,
Gavriella
Hi, just to clarify: once you turn your work at the end of Row 3 to do the double stitch, is the ‘knit to the end of the row’ the start of Row 4 or is it a continuation of Row 3?
My first time making a sweater and REALLY want any it to work!
Oh I completely understand. Knit to the end of the row is the instruction included on row 4. So not a continuation of row 3. We’d also always be happy to go over this more in depth in one of our free 1-on-1 sessions in case you would like more of a visual.
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Any chance you will be expanding the sizes? I think this would be an adorable baby sweater! I’d love to make a 6-9 month size!
Hi Shari,
That’s a great idea! I’ll pass along your interest in baby sizes to our design team for future consideration.
All the best,
Lili
Hi
Do you think high tide and birds eye blue compliment in the petunia sweater? Its so hard to tell without touching and feeling them together.
Appreciate your help
Hi Dale,
I love the look of High Tide and Birds Egg Blue together! I think they’d be a wonderful choice for this pattern!
All the best,
Lili
This looks like a really fun project to do but I really don’t like weaving in ends at the end of projects. Will I have to weave in the ends at each row that has a change of color? I’m hopeful the change of color is done at the neck edge and I can just carry the contrasting color across a row or two. If I have to weave in all the ends it would be a no-go for me.
Hi Mary,
Never fear, there are very few ends to weave in for this pattern! You’ll be carrying the colors up the selvedge as you knit, so you don’t have to cut and reattach them.
All the best,
Lili
Hi there
Thank you so much for such a fun pattern!
Can I ask if there’s a reason for using a three needle bind off, rather than a graft for the sleeve and rear seams?
Thanks!
Hi Emma,
Glad to hear that this pattern has caught your eye! I believe this pattern avoids grafting because it’s in garter stitch. Depending on what rows the garter stitch ends on, you can sometimes get an additional row of knit stitches when grafting (since that technique adds a row). The 3-needle bind-off avoids the extra row, so it’s a simpler technique to incorporate into a pattern like this!
All the best,
Lili
Hi! This is so cute. I’ve never knit a sweater before – is this doable for a beginner who has only knit a few scarves in the past? Or is this more of an intermediate/advanced level?
And am I reading the chart correctly in terms of required skeins – for size 49, say, would you need 2 skeins of each color?
Hi Lora,
Thanks for writing in! I think that the Petunia Pullover will be an exciting challenge for a beginner knitter. We know that learning new techniques enriches the process of making, so we describe the skills involved with a pattern to help new knitters learn more about what’s ahead! Below, I’ve included a list of skills that this pattern requires, as well as links to any tutorials we have on them:
How To Read A Knitting Pattern
Basic Bind Off
Short Rows: German Short Rows
Provisional Cast On: One-Step Method
3-Needle Bind Off
Picking Up Stitches
Seaming Garter Stitch
In answer to your other question, yes you will need 2 skeins of each color for size 49!
Ultimately, we hope that you will take little leaps into the unknown and find that the satisfaction was worth the challenge. If these techniques are daunting, I would recommend trying them out with some scrap yarn before beginning the sweater. And as always, we are happy to help answer any questions you may have along the way!
All the best,
Lili
On set up row 3: I have knitted to last 5 stitches, I turn work and slip stitch from left needle to right needle and I tug on yarn on right needle and see the double stitch. Then you lose me!!!
What do you mean per instructions “bring yarn over needle and leave yarn in back.” Per previous answer above at this point I should turn work??? I am about to go crazy and would appreciate more instruction on what to do after I tug and see the double stitch??
Thank you
Kay
Hi Kay,
After you tug on the yarn and see the double stitch, you’re ready to begin Short Row 4! You will have already turned your work as the first step of creating the double stitch. So from the point where you are now, you can just start knitting the stitches on Short Row 4!
All the best,
Lili
I just started the left sleeve, at the part where you join the sleeve and yoke. It says to use color b, but color b is on the yoke stitches. This would result in two color b rows in a row! Please help!
Hi Robin,
Thanks for writing in! Since you ended with Color B before the Left Sleeve section, then I’m betting you missed the “then repeat Rows 1–6 one time” instruction at the very end of the Front Center, Left Body + Yoke section (right before DIVIDE LEFT BODY FROM YOKE). These final 6 rows are knit with Color A, so then you’ll be all set to work the Left Sleeve as written!
All the best,
Lili
Still hoping for an update to this pattern with smaller sizes – esp 6-9 or 12 mo. I contacted the designer directly and she said she cannot make any updates to the pattern without your permission and that I should reach out to you directly. Can you help? Thank you!
Hi Shari,
Thanks so much for sharing your idea–I also think that would be great! I want to let you know that our design team is definitely considering adding smaller sizes to this pattern in the future. It will take some time to create these new sizes, but I wanted to let you know that it’s definitely on our minds!
All the best,
Lili
I have leftovers from knitting a Joy of Color scarf and thought to knit a scrappy rainbow version for my daughter… probably size 10. Is there anything I should consider besides a billion yarn ends?
Do we know how many grams per wedge for the samples that were knit? I could extrapolate from that, probably, if I have enough of each color to pull this off. 🤔
Thanks for the help! It looks so fun to knit. 😊
Hi Sari,
That’s such a fun idea! While I don’t think our design team kept track of exactly how much yardage each stripe requires, I should be able to figure out a general estimate for you. Taking a look at the pattern for Child Size 10, I believe that there are about 55 stripes of each color, which would mean that each stripe would require approximately 8 yards each. I hope this helps you get started!
All the best,
Lili
Hi- I’m stuck at Join Sleeve + Yoke on page 4. I don’t understand where I’m supposed to start knitting and how the sleeve piece fits on the yoke. Will all the stitches be on one needle after this step? Please help!
Hi Alexis,
I’m happy to help explain this part of the pattern! You currently have some live stitches on your original pair of needles–these are for the yoke. You also have some stitches on your spare needles that are currently completely separate from the rest of the sweater–these are the sleeve stitches. In the JOIN SLEEVE + YOKE section, you first knit across all the stitches on your spare needles. Then, with the same yarn, you knit across the live stitches on your original needles. This ends up joining the sleeve stitches to the yoke stitches, and all your stitches will be on the same needle now!
All the best,
Lili
Hi Lili,
I have a question about this section as well. I’m working on the right sleeve; After the prov. cast on, in color B, I knit 6 rows even. The next step, at the top of page 4, it says to repeat rows 1-6 two times more. So, I knitted 6 rows even in color A, then 6 rows even in color B. The joining step after that says to start with color B. This is where I’m unsure if I have done this right.
I feel I need to do another 6 rows in color A, then join the two sections with color B.
Hi Anna,
Thanks for writing in! You’re right that the stripes will continue alternating colors. What size are you making?
My best guess with the information you’ve given is that you’re making Size 2, which means you’ll always follow the first number inside the parentheses. If that’s correct, you’ll start the sleeve just as you did: After the provisional cast on, in color B, knit 6 rows even. Then you’ll repeat these rows only once in color A. That will set you up for using color B in the joining step to continue in your stripe pattern.
We hope this helps! Let us know if you’re making a different size or if you have other questions. We’re happy to walk you through this!
All the best,
Allison
Oh, okay. I kept reading the instructions over and over again thinking I’d missed something. Yes, I am making size 2 .
Thanks again
If I want a longer sweater, can I just cast on additional stitches at the beginning and then just follow the instructions for my size. I know it may change the yardage I need.
Hi Seanna,
Thanks for writing in! You can definitely do that, but keep in mind that it will change the placement of the short rows. If you choose to make a modification like this, then I’d recommend keeping a close eye on your stitch count and modifying it when necessary throughout the pattern!
All the best,
Lili
Hi! I’ve been knitting along on an adult petunia sweater and am a bit confused where to go next and how far to go in the instructions.
I am up to Left sleeve on page 6. So far, I have done the CAST + SETUP section from page 3. Should I do all of page 4 and the SEAM SLEEVE section on page 5?
After that, for the BACK LEFT BODY, knit both BEGIN and JOIN RIGHT BODY + YOKE sections from page 5? Finally conclude withBACK LEFT BODY + YOKE section on page 6.
Thank you!
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for writing in! For this pattern, you’ll just follow all the instructions as written, in the order they’re written. The Adult and Child versions are separated, so the version you’re working on now is just for the Adult version, and it ends at the end of page 7!
All the best,
Lili
Is it possible to make this sleeveless to wear under a jacket?
Hi Nelle,
Thanks for your question! Because of its unique construction, it isn’t possible to make this a sleeveless top, but you can make the sleeves shorter!
To do this, I recommend casting on fewer stitches when you start the sleeves. Since the pattern gauge is 5.5 sts per inch, you’ll subtract 5.5 sts from the cast-on number for every inch shorter you’d like to make the sleeves.
We hope this helps as a starting point, but if you need any additional guidance, we’re happy to chat further!
All the best,
Allison
Hi! I loved knitting up this pattern it was so easy and fun. I made it for my infant niece so that she could grow into the size two. Unfortunately, or somewhat adorably, in my opinion, her head is too big to fit through the sweater. Body and sleeves are the right size though! lol
Do you have any advice on how I might adjust the neck so that we can get this cute baby dressed? I was thinking of maybe doing some steeking to open the back a little and adding buttons. Is that possible? I’ve never done that technique before and would love any thoughts!
Hi Bebhinn,
That is simply adorable! While steeking founds like such a fun idea, another thing you could try is binding off using your preferred stretchy bind off method. I’d recommend ripping out the bind off and trying that before steeking! I hope thing helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
I would like to confirm something; After starting to knit after the provisional cast on, working right to left on the needle, the short rows are developing at the end of the right side row. Is this correct?
Hi Anna,
Thanks for reaching out! That is correct, your fabric will have started to grow a bit thicker on the right side of your work while the right side is facing you. I hope this helps clarify but please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Gavriella
Thank you for confirming. I did end up answering my question myself when I checked the provisional cast on instructions, to start knitting at the same end as the cast on was completed.
You are very welcome! So happy to hear you were able to continue. Happy knitting!
Just want to say that I just purchased this pattern and cant’ wait to get started…and I really appreciate that we knitters can write in with our troubles and questions! I have just “bookmarked” this page so I can refer back to all the wonderful questions/answers here as I go along. Love PurlSoho!
Aww Pamela, Thank you for such kind words and we are definitely always happy to help!
Happy knitting!
Gavriella
Okay..I have knitted away and am now ready to do the provisional cast on for the sleeves. I’m just realizing how short the sleeves will be when finished…I’m not a fan of 3/4 sleeves. If I want to add 4 inches for a full length sleeve, could I just cast on 22 extra stitches. Since the short rows are not at the bottom of the sleeve, would that work?
(Since the gauge is 22 stitches and 46 rows=4 inches).
Hi Pamela!
Thank you for your question! Yes — if you prefer full-length sleeves, you can absolutely cast on an additional 22 stitches to add about 4 inches. Since the short rows are worked at the top of the sleeve to shape the shoulder (not at the cuff), this modification should work smoothly without affecting the construction.
Happy knitting!
Megan