Charlie Slipover: Airy Texture for Any Season

What makes you want to cast on a new knitting project? Is it the promise of a finished object, or simply the need to have something on your needles? For me, an exciting new garment needs to be both fun to knit and something I can wear. Ideally, it will also be a new favorite—something I reach for again and again, from year to year.

Juliette Pécault’s new Charlie Slipover checks both those boxes and more. Knit with a light and airy combination of Wooldreamers Manchelopis and Rowan Kidsilk Haze, it promises to be a satisfying knit and a wardrobe staple. I asked Juliette how she likes to style the Charlie Slipover, and she had some great advice:

I like wearing it on its own as a tank top, as shown in the photo, or over a white short-sleeve tee. It’s great for fiber festivals and events in warmer weather, where I want to show off my knits, but I don’t want to wear a full sweater or wrap up in a shawl.

Juliette wearing her version of the Charlie Slipover. Photo by Juliette Pécault

The Yarns

Manchelopis is an unspun two-ply yarn that’s made with the wool of Manchega sheep. If that sounds familiar, it’s because Manchega sheep are the source of Manchego cheese. Manchelopis yarn is sold in “wheels” much like its cheesy counterpart, but will last long past your fancy dinner party! With Manchelopis, Wooldreamers seeks to highlight the value of all wool, and blends fiber from two flocks—one producing dark brown wool and the other white—to create a softly heathered yarn in a range of luscious colors.

Because Manchelopis is unspun, it will create a lightweight garment that has just the right amount of warmth without feeling heavy. The ever-popular Kidsilk Haze from Rowan complements this effect, creating a soft and luxurious halo.

Knit with Manchelopis and Kidsilk Haze held together, the Charlie Slipover has an irresistible texture.

Knitting the Charlie Slipover

Worked from the bottom up, the Charlie Slipover features a complex-looking but simple-to-knit stitch pattern, with knit and purl stitches forming a textured diamond brocade pattern that covers the body of the sweater. While many wearable garments call for miles of mind-numbing stockinette, the stitch pattern in the Charlie Slipover creates a growing lattice of diamonds under your needles, and will have you saying, “just one more repeat.” This engaging texture is softened by the fuzzy halo of the yarns, resulting in a subtle and luxurious look.

The armholes have a folded finish, making knitting and finishing a breeze, with the added benefit of giving shape and structure to the garment. The neckline is worked with a simple crocheted slip-stitch edge to create a stable base for picking up and knitting the ribbing for the collar. The finished result is something that will be cozy and wearable no matter the season, sure to be a favorite for years to come!

Worked on size 10½ (6.5 mm) needles, this project is sure to fly off your needles. Cast on a Charlie Slipover today!

Subscribers can find the Charlie Slipover in the Farm & Fiber Knits Library.

Learn more about Wooldreamers in “Reinventing Spanish Wool: Meet Wooldreamers”