Apotheca is available for purchase via Ravelry. If you cannot access Ravelry, email me at meghan@meggopurls.com.

Soft, squishy, and chic — Apotheca is a top down, unisex circular yoke pullover, featuring simply satisfying Half Fisherman’s Rib. A blend of subtle and precise details — like the straightforward top down construction, a snuggly folded mock turtleneck, invisible short-row shaping, visually pleasing increases and decreases, and the gently puffed cuffs — make this sweater feel like your favorite cozy sweatshirt, while looking like a million bucks.

This cozy, everyday chic pullover is all about using yarn that is special to you. For my own version, I unearthed my most precious hoard of Foxhill Farm Cormo DK from Rhinebeck 2017, a 100% Cormo that feels like angel’s wings. Knowing that not everyone has access to this luscious, but commercially unavailable yarn, I’ve provided a list of suggested yarn pairings from DK weights to fingering + mohair silk lace combos.

Find in the pattern specs suggestions for DK weight and/or fingering and mohair/silk lace weight for your own very special Apotheca.

Finished Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9); 34 (38, 40, 43, 48.5, 52, 56, 63, 72.5)” / 85 (95, 100, 107.5, 121.5, 130, 140, 157.5, 181.5) cm finished chest circumference. Size 6 sample shown measures 52” / 130 cm, worn with 11” / 28 cm positive ease of Becca and 2” / 5 cm positive ease on Meghan. Recommended ease: 2-12” / 5-30.5 cm.

Yarn
Foxhill Farm Cormo DK (100% Cormo wool; 308 yds / 282 m; 3.5 oz / 100 g): natural gray (undyed), 5 (5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9) skeins.

OR

any DK weight yarn; 1270 (1400, 1480, 1540, 1790, 1930, 2060, 2320, 2580) yds / 1170 (1290, 1360, 1410, 1640, 1770, 1890, 2130, 2360) m.

DK weight suggestions
De Rerum Natura Pénélope (90% organic Merinos d’Arles (France), 10 % Mulberry silk (China); 145 yds 133 m; 1.76 oz. 50 g): 9 (10, 11, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18) skeins.

The Fibre Co. Arranmore Light (80% merino wool, 10% silk, 10% cashmere; 328 yd 300 m; 3.5 oz. 100 g): 4 (5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8) skeins.

West Yorkshire Spinners Fleece Bluefaced Leicester DK (100% Bluefaced Leicester; 246 yd 225 m): 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11) skeins.

OR

any fingering weight and mohair/silk lace; 1270 (1400, 1480, 1540, 1790, 1930, 2060, 2320, 2580) yds / 1170 (1290, 1360, 1410, 1640, 1770, 1890, 2130, 2360) m, respectively.

Needles
Size A (for body and sleeves): US 6 / 4.00 mm: 32” / 80 cm and 16” / 40 cm circ.
Size B (for ribbing and collar): US 4 / 3.5 mm: 32” / 80 cm circ, 16” / 40 cm circ, and one set of DPNs, or preferred method for working small circumferences.
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions
Tapestry needle; stitch markers (m); waste yarn.

Gauge
16 sts and 42 rnds = 4” / 10 cm in Half Fisherman’s Rib (in the round) on Size A needle in the rnd, after blocking.

Skills Required
Half Fisherman’s Rib knitting; increasing and decreasing in Half Fisherman’s Rib; picking up stitches; German Short Row Method; optional, Italian Tubular Bind Off.

Design Notes
• Pullover is made from the top down in the round, starting with the folded mock turtleneck.
• Short Row Shaping using German Short Row Method (GSR) worked immediately after dividing the body and sleeves to raise the back neck.
• Lower body and sleeves are worked in the round from the top down and finished with 1x1 Rib hem & cuff.
• Optional: the sample hem & cuffs are finished using the Italian Tubular Cast on.
• I HIGHLY recommend steaming or wet-blocking and trying on as you go to ensure the correct length for the yoke, lower body and sleeves. Half Fisherman’s Rib GROWS considerably when blocked.