Peperomia is a seamless colorwork pullover inspired by layered forest foliage. The motif begins dense at the hem and gradually fades away as it travels upward across the body and sleeves so more background color shows toward the shoulders.

The sweater is worked bottom up in the round. The body and sleeves are knit separately, then joined onto one circular needle where raglan decreases shape the yoke and form the V neckline. Stitches are picked up for the neckline ribbing and the underarms are finished with kitchener stitch for a clean finish.

Speckled or tonal hand dyed yarns highlight the organic motif especially well and help the colorwork read clearly across the fabric.

Design Details

Peperomia is designed with a clean, close fitting neckline and balanced shoulder shaping so the colorwork sits naturally across the upper body. As you knit, the motif slowly opens toward the shoulders which keeps the sweater visually lighter near the face.

The sleeves can be worked in full colorwork or simplified to a single color. The V neckline and raglan shaping keep the fit comfortable through the shoulders while maintaining a neat silhouette.

Pattern Highlights

• Colorwork motif that changes as you knit

• Bottom up raglan shaping with a V neckline

• Sleeves can be worked in colorwork or single color

• Clean shaping through the shoulders and neckline

Construction Overview

Peperomia is worked seamlessly from the bottom up in the round.

The body is knit first to the underarm and placed on hold. Sleeves are worked separately in the round to the mid bicep. All stitches are then joined onto one circular needle and raglan decreases are worked to shape the yoke and neckline.

After the yoke is complete, stitches are picked up around the neckline to knit the ribbing and the underarms are closed using Kitchener stitch.

Yarn Notes

We knit our sample in Miss La Motte Lustre and it suits this design beautifully. The base shows the colorwork clearly while still creating a soft fabric with gentle drape.

Fiber: 50% superwash merino, 15% kid mohair, 15% mulberry silk, 20% polyamide

Yardage: 437 yd / 100 g

Sample colors: Spruce Forest, Evening Sunglow, Celadonite, Blue Spruce

The slight halo softens the motif while the merino keeps the stitches defined.

Peperomia works best in a fingering weight yarn with good stitch definition. Tonal and lightly speckled yarns both work well, and a smooth commercial fingering yarn will give a more graphic result. See testers' projects for a wide range of successful yarn choices.

Needles & Gauge

- US 3 (3.00 mm) 16–40" circular needles or DPNs

- US 5 (3.75 mm) 16–40" circular needles or DPNs

28 sts x 30 rows = 4" x 4" in colorwork stockinette in the round, blocked

Yardage Requirements

Option 1: Plain Sleeves

MC (Main Color):

1090 (1170, 1310, 1440, 1510, 1570, 1640, 1802, 1920, 2020, 2130, 2240) yards

995 (1070, 1196, 1315, 1380, 1434, 1500, 1650, 1755, 1850, 1950, 2045) meters

CC (Contrast Color):

205 (220, 245, 270, 285, 335, 350, 385, 410, 430, 455, 480) yards

185 (200, 230, 250, 260, 310, 320, 350, 375, 395, 420, 440) meters

Option 2: Colorwork Sleeves

MC (Main Color):

1035 (1100, 1230, 1330, 1430, 1500, 1575, 1706, 1800, 1910, 2050, 2150) yards

945 (1005, 1125, 1215, 1305, 1375, 1440, 1560, 1645, 1740, 1875, 1965) meters

CC (Contrast Color):

345 (370, 410, 445, 480, 500, 525, 570, 600, 635, 685, 720) yards

315 (335, 375, 405, 435, 460, 480, 520, 550, 580, 625, 655) meters

Finished Measurements

Peperomia is designed for 0–4" (0–10 cm) of positive ease

To choose your size:

1. Measure your full bust

2. Add 0–4"

3. Choose the finished bust measurement closest to that number

Example: If your full bust measures 40", the 43" size will give approximately 3" of ease.

Bust Circumference:

34 (37, 40, 43, 46, 48.5, 51.5, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66)"

86.4 (94, 102, 110, 117, 123, 131, 137, 145, 152, 160, 168) cm

Yoke Depth:

8.5 (8.5, 9, 9, 9.5, 11, 11, 11.5, 12, 12, 12.5)"

21.6 (21.6, 23, 23, 24, 28, 28, 26.5, 30.5, 30.5, 32) cm

Mid Bicep:

11 (11.75, 12.5, 13.5, 14.3, 15, 16.5, 17.75, 19, 20, 22, 24)"

28 (30, 32, 34.5, 36, 38, 42, 45, 48, 51, 56, 61) cm

Sweater Length:

15 (15, 15, 15, 15, 15.5, 15.5, 15.5, 15.5, 16, 16, 16)"

38 (38, 38, 38, 38, 39.5, 39.5, 39.5, 39.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5) cm

Sleeve Length:

16 (16, 16, 16, 16.5, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17.5, 17.5)"

40.5 (40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 42, 43, 43, 43, 43, 43, 44.5, 44.5) cm

Let's Knit Together

This pattern includes video tutorials, and we'd love to have you in our community. Join the Wool & Pine Cottage on Discord for pattern support, progress shares, and a friendly place to knit alongside others. Join us here: https://discord.com/invite/M64Ec9yeng