Cholita Sweater (EN)

Cholita Sweater is a knitting pattern designed by Miriam from Mrs Funny Valentine, inspired by the powerful story of the Cholita mountain climbers of Bolivia and a deep personal connection to mountains and slow, meaningful making. The design combines cultural symbolism with a timeless knitted garment, resulting in a sweater that feels both grounded and expressive.

The Cholita Sweater is a seamless, top-down knitted sweater with a round yoke and striking colorwork. The graphic colorwork pattern reflects abstract mountains and valleys, echoing the rhythm of climbing step by step. Short rows are used to shape the neckline for an improved fit, and the sweater is worked entirely in the round from the collar down to the hem.

The sweater is knitted using BC Garn Brisa, a light DK-weight blown yarn composed of cotton, alpaca, and wool. This yarn gives the garment softness, warmth, and a slightly airy structure while still holding the crisp definition of the colorwork pattern. Brisa has a yardage of 110 meters per 50 grams, making it suitable for detailed stranded knitting without becoming heavy.

Cholita Sweater is worked with 5.5 mm and 5 mm circular needles, or needle sizes needed to obtain gauge. The gauge is 16 stitches and 20 rows per 10 cm in stockinette stitch after blocking. The sweater is designed with 10–15 cm of positive ease, offering a relaxed yet structured fit.

The pattern includes a wide size range: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, and 5XL. Detailed instructions guide you through yoke construction, sleeve separation, body shaping, and finishing details such as twisted ribbing at cuffs, hem, and collar. The colorwork charts are clearly laid out and charted only, making this pattern best suited for knitters with experience in stranded colorwork.

Cholita Sweater is more than a garment. It is a tribute to endurance, strength, and the quiet confidence that grows with every stitch, making it a meaningful and rewarding knitting project.