Every time I sit down to design, ideas and images push and pull me along different tangents. This time my inspirations were comic book colours, The Big Bang Theory, Ronald McDonald, Roy Lichtenstein … and onomatopoeic words.

I’ve always loved the word onomatopoeia, especially that it’s such a long word to describe the often one-syllable words that suggest sounds in our written language. Pop! Bam! Pow! I think there’s a similarity between onomatopoeia and intarsia colourwork—it takes more work but packs a great visual punch.

Ronald McDonald snuck into my subconscious with his wildly coloured and striped clothes to draw the eye, but the stripes and layered colors of Onomatopoeia were really inspired by Sheldon’s wardrobe on The Big Bang Theory. And Roy Lichtenstein’s Pop Art images were not far from my mind with that exclamation mark on the back either.

The pullover is worked from bottom up, in pieces. The layered sleeve begins with two separate sleeves that are joined together before completing the rest of the modified set-in sleeve with a short sleeve cap. Picture on front and back are worked in the intarsia technique.

This knitting pattern includes written directions, colour charts for intarsia motifs, shoulder button opening for smaller sizes, front and back images, and a schematic with measurements.

Sizes/Finished Measurements
To fit: 12-24 months (2 yrs, 3 yrs, 4 yrs, 6 yrs)
Finished chest: 26 ¼ (27, 28, 29 ¾, 31 ½)“ / 65.5 (67.5, 70, 74.5, 79) cm
Length: 14 (15, 15 ¾, 16 ½, 18)” / 35 (37.5, 39.5, 41.5, 45) cm
Sleeve seam length: 8 ¼ (12, 12 ½, 13, 13 ¾)“ / 21 (30.5, 32, 33, 35) cm
Designed for a roomy fit with 6-7” (15-17.5 cm) positive ease.

Yarn
Worsted weight yarn
A: 285 (330, 360, 395, 465) yd / 265 (305, 335, 365, 425) m
B: 55 (75, 85, 90, 100) yd / 50 (70, 80, 80, 95) m
C: 90 (220, 245, 255, 270) yd / 85 (205, 225, 235,
250) m
D: 20 (20, 20, 20, 20) yd / 20 (20, 20, 20, 20) m
E: 50 (70, 90, 100, 120) yd / 45 (65, 85, 95, 110) m

Shown in Spud and Chloë®Sweater (55% wool, 45% organic cotton; 160 yards / 146 meters per 100 gram hank);
Skydiver #7520 (A); 2, 2, 2, 3, 3 hanks
Splash #7510 (B); 1, 1, 1, 1, 2 hanks
Firecracker #7509 (C); 1, 1, 1, 1, 2 hanks
Pollen #7508 (D); 1 hank for all sizes
Root Beer #7503 (E); 1 hank for all sizes

Substitution Notes
Choose a smooth worsted weight yarn in a wool or cotton blend. Non-superwash wools perform better when working intricate intarsia, but superwash wools may also be used successfully.

Techniques
Increases/decreases, working intricate intarsia from chart, basic modified set-in sweater construction, worked flat, bottom up, seaming, picking up and knitting, neckband for larger sizes worked in the round.

Helpful Links
Raised Increases video tutorial
Raised Increases photo tutorial
SSK & SSP Decreases video tutorial