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(All images copyright splityarn 2010.)

Ayana is an easygoing but flattering V-neck sweater with waving rib panels to create a curvy impression. It is knit in pieces from the bottom up and then seamed together. The bottoms of all pieces are worked with faced hems. This keeps the visual interest of the ribbing while mitigating its tendency to pull in. Vertical darts are used for waist and bust shaping. On the front, the darts are worked into the sides of the waving rib panels. The waving rib continues at the top of the back neck.

With minor alterations, Ayana can flatter a variety of body types. As written, the V neckline and ribbed hem trim make Ayana visually balanced; the waving rib panels do a nice job of narrowing a larger bust.

Altering where the hem falls on the wearer’s body and the depth of the hem ribbing can make Ayana a great choice for top-heavy or bottom-heavy shapes: Top-heavy shapes can expand and deepen the ribbing on the hem, or change it all to waving rib. Bottom-heavy shapes might consider eliminating the band of hem ribbing entirely. The sleeves can easily be shortened to draw attention to a curvy waist, or the ribbing on the sleeves shortened to draw a visual line across the wearer’s hips.

Berroco’s Ultra Alpaca is one of my all-time favorite yarns and offers a wonderful fuzziness to the rib panels adorning the front of this sweater. I swatched the sweater in one of their more heathered colors, and it also looked great. If you’d like to substitute yarn for Ayana, I recommend you choose a yarn with some drape and either tweed or a fuzzy quality, to keep the lines of the ribbing soft.

Many thanks to Elizabeth Sullivan for tech editing.