The Ziggurat Method

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T h e   Z i g g u r a t    m e t h o d

• tailored & top down
• entirely seamless
• sleeve caps are knitted along with the yoke for a 'set-in' sleeve
• simultaneous neck-shaping (also in back)
• built-in everything (pockets, buttonband, seamlessly lined hems)
• absolutely minimal sewing in of ends
• tailored & top down

A Ziggurat pullover is knitted seamlessly and top down without breaking the yarn. You shape the sculpted sleeve caps, neckline as you go. Buttonbands, pockets... the whole shebang is built in and not added on afterwards.

With the Ziggurat method you fashion a tailored and flattering silhouette – a yoke that sits and fits just right across your shoulders and with no bagging at the armholes. 

You knit in a zigging and zagging manner to create each shoulder in turn before normal knitting in the round begins. The yarn is cut only when absolutely necessary – so there are very few ends to sew in. In fact, if your were to knit from a huge skein with yardage enough for the whole sweater, you would have precisely 6 ends to weave in at the end.

a   t y p i c a l   Z i g g u r a t     p u l l o v e r

t h e    s t a r t   o f   a   t y p i c a l   Z i g g u r a t    c a r d i g a n

s t r u c t u r e   w i t h o u t    s e a m s    o r    s e w i n g

I like these wrong-side pictures – in classes I pass this swatch around. It gives a clear idea of what you are constructing. It also shows that there is indeed structure, without seams or sewing. The selvedges created by picking up stitches (in cast ons) provide sturdy yet stretchy joining points or lines.

t h e    b a s i c   p r i n c i p l e  is the same since the very first Ziggurat back in 2011: you cast on for back and shoulders, then work the back and front shoulders in turn while also creating tailored sleeve caps, all in one continuous piece without cutting or joining yarn or pieces. Over the years, I have tweaked the Ziggurat steps and refined details. There are new pockets and cuffs. And new constructions, such as Saddle Shoulder Ziggurats.

t h e   Z i g g u r a t   s t e p s   a r e    a l w a y s    f a m i l i a r(Steps 1–5, colour coded)

One feature of every Ziggurat pattern is that the Steps are instantly recognisable from one pattern to another. As are the shaping instructions. In every Ziggurat pattern they are coded and displayed in the same way.

Step 6: colour-coded sleeve, neck, and body increases

• neck increases (nM1) are always green
• sleeve increases (sM1) are always red
• body increases (bM1) are always blue

They are coded that way also in the written instructions, and in the (surprisingly helpful!) Helpful Table that has been a signature feature since the start. This means:

once you’ve knitted just one Ziggurat sweater you’ll be able to navigate through any other Ziggurat pattern with ease.

a d d i t i o n a l    g u i d a n c e

You’ll find photos and detailed step-by-step guidance in every pattern. An excellent resource and handbook is my first book, Ziggurats: 16 elegantly seamless knits with closeups of how and exactly where you pick up stitches for the sleeve caps and other tricksy bits, including how to read and make good use of the Helpful Table.

Z i g g u r a t   C l a s s 

• 1 at the top for the cast on
• 1 at the bottom hem after pulling the yarn through the final cast-off stitch
• 2 for each sleeve (1 at underarm pickup, 1 at cuff)

There are some exceptions for I realise that not all knitters are pigheadedly adhering strictly to principles for principles’ sake.

There are several good reasons for leaving the collar until last, not least that it’s nice to leave things open – you may while knitting change your mind several times about what will look best. Moreover, a collar added on last can easily be undone and reknitted.

That said, some Ziggurat designs do begin with the collar. 

n o    s e a m i n g

I have nothing against sewing per se. I just like to keep sewing and knitting apart.

n o    c u t t i n g

This is really in the interest of saving ends to weave in.
And also for the beauty of the challenge of sticking to principles.
And for the integrity of a treasured yarn – this is not just a silly idée fixe. No, for it leaves the yarn intact should you decide to frog (unravel) your sweater to start over.

n o    j o i n i n g

There are no separate little pieces or schnipsels to join. You start at the top, and then zig and zag in a rather clever manner to the end, creating a tailored look and fit along the way. In my designs, you will find optional waist shaping, bust darts, a sneaky way of adding space for a prominent bootie, built-in pockets – or you can add your own details.

w h e n    i t ‘ s    d o n e    i t ‘ s    d o n e

When done knitting, the garment is and looks finished, trims, buttonbands, hems, cuffs. All of it. Well ok, except the collars on (most) pullovers – the collars (and buttonbands) on cardigans are built in.
Done when done: some very few ends to weave in. That’s it.

s t r i p e s   &   s t i t c h   p a t t e r n s

One simply cannot have too many stripes. However, striped Ziggurats present an additional challenge.
For symmetry (intended asymmetry is good, unintended, well… often not so good) each version has been worked out individually. The 6-row striped cardigan will have its Ziggurat  turns in a different place than the 4-row pullover, and the 6-row pullover at a different place again.
The same holds for other stitch patterns. You'll find 17 of them in the NEW Ziggurat Book: Åsa Tricosa Ziggurats · Colour & Texture.

a d d i c t i v e

A word of warning: Ziggurating is a bit addictive. I will not be held responsible.

a d a p t a b l e

Ziggurat designs are adaptable and easy to modify, especially if you make use of the Helpful Table to guide you between sizes.
You may, for example, have narrower shoulders than usual for your standard size. Solution: cast on for a smaller size but follow increases and stitch counts for your desired size and ease to accommodate bust and other measurements.

Try your sweater on as you go! The beauty of Ziggurating (and other top-down designs) is that you can get a good idea of the fit without sewing and before blocking and drying.

z i g g u r a t    d e s i g n s

You can find all Åsa Tricosa Ziggurat sweaters and tops on Ravelry here.
The most basic Ziggurat is Simple Ziggurat (the photo at top of this page).

My first book, Åsa Tricosa Ziggurats: 16 elegantly seamless knits is a selection of very knittable pullovers and cardigans along  with plenty of detailed tutorials for both novices and advanced knitters.

My NEW book, Åsa Tricosa Ziggurats · Colour & Texture takes the Ziggurat sweater to the next level, revelling in colours, cables, and textures, from straightforward stitch patterns to quite intricate for the intrepid knitter.

The Ziggurat Method is indebted to and inspired by Tuulia Salmela’s Tailored Sweater Method.