Sophia Loren's Riverside Pullover and Cardigan: A Knitting Pattern Inspired by 'Woman of the River'

SOPHIA LOREN Riverside Pullover and Riverside Cardigan

by Kathleen Lawton-Trask and Becky Wolf Woman of the River (La donna del fiume) is the story of Nives Mongolini (Sophia Loren), a peasant working in an eel factory who falls in love with a handsome smuggler, Gino Lodi (Rik Battaglia). Despite Nives's initial resistance, the two have a brief affair. After Gino abandons her, Nives betrays him to Enzo Cinti (Gerard Oury), a police officer who loves and hopes to marry her. Gino returns a few months later, hoping to rekindle the affair, but leaves again when he learns that she is pregnant. Later, Nives learns from Enzo that Gino has escaped from prison and is seeking revenge on her for revealing his smuggling activities. Released sixty years ago, Woman of the River is one of the few neo-realist films produced by Dino De Laurentis, later known for science fiction and horror films (Barbarella, Conan the Barbarian, Blue Velvet). His early, Italian-language films were intimate portrayals of the working poor. Loren's confident acting made her perfect to play quintessential self-reliant working woman Nives.

The inspiration for the two Riverside Sweaters is the shortsleeved pullover Nives wears while working as a sugar cane cutter to support herself and her son by Gino. The in-the-round construction, feminine close fit and garter stitch color changes of the pullover update its style while maintaining the casual summer feel of the original, while the lacy cardigan— still chic but also dignified—suggests the later Nives, who has suffered, but also discovered an inner strength. Gino Lodi (Rik Battaglia): Ever ride a motorcycle? Nives Mongolini (Sophia Loren): No! Gino: Bet you like it. Nives: No! Gino: Are you afraid? Nives: No!

Watch For

Nives knitting what looks very much like a baby blanket while avoiding talking to Officer Enzo Cinti about her pregnancy by unscrupulous cigarette smuggler Gino Lodi. Nives' defiant attitude throughout the film. Her strength and independence carry her through repeated hardship caused almost entirely by Gino's early caddishness.

SOPHIA LOREN

Riverside Pullover

by Kathleen Lawton-Trask

Skill level: Advanced

Sizes: Women's XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) Finished Measurements: Bust: 2914 (32, 34%4, 371/4, 40, 423%4, 4514, 48, 50%)' (74 [81,88, 94.5, 101.5, 108.5,115,122, 129]cm) Waist: 263%4 (2914,32, 34%, 371/4, 40, 42%,4514,48)\* (66.5 [74, 81, 88, 94.5,101.5, 108.5, 115, 122]cm) Hips: 32 (3434, 3714, 40, 423%4, 4514, 48, 50%, 5314)" (81 [88, 94.5,101.5,108.5,115, 122, 129, 135]cm) Length: 2212 (22%, 2314, 2312, 23%, 24, 241/2, 2434, 25)" (57 [58, 59, 60, 60.5, 61, 62, 63, 63.5]cm)

YARN

[MC] 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins Fibre Company Canopy Worsted, 50% baby alpaca, 30% merino, 20% viscose from bamboo, 312 oz (50g), 100 yds (91m) in Orchid [CC1] 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) skeins Fibre Company Canopy Worsted, 50% baby alpaca, 30% merino, 20% viscose from bamboo, 312 0z (50g), 100 yds (91m) in Chicklet Tree [CC2] 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) skeins Fibre Company Canopy Worsted, 50% baby alpaca, 30% merino, 20% viscose from bamboo, 312 0z (50g), 100 yds (91m) in Cat'sClaw

NEEDLES

Size 6 (4mm) 24" (60cm) circular needle, or size needed to obtaingauge Size 7 (4.5mm) 24" (60cm) circular needle, 0r size needed to obtain gauge Size 6 (4mm) double pointed needles Size 7 (4.5mm) double pointed needles Larger sizes may need 32" (80cm) circular needles for body.

GAUGE

18 stitches and 24 rounds = 4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch 18 stitches and 24 rounds = 4" (10cm) in colorwork pattern

NOTIONS

Tapestry needle Stitch markers Stitches holders, waste yarn, or spare circular needle

Pattern Notes

Sweater Body is worked in one piece from the bottom up to the armholes. Sleeves are worked separately in the round from the bottom up and then joined with the Body, then the yoke is knit in one piece to the neck. If required you should change needle size when working stranded colorwork in order to maintain gauge. It is suggested that you work a swatch in the round to confirm your gauge before beginning.Work from the written or charted instructions as you prefer.

PATTERN STITCHES

White Diamond Pattern (Chart A)

Round 1: (K3 MC, k1 CC1, k2 MC) around. Round 2: (K2 MC, k3 CC1, k1 MC) around. Round 3: (K1 MC, k2 CC1) around. Round 4: (K2 CC1, k3 MC, k1 CC1) around. Round 5: (K1 MC, k2 CC1) around. Round 6: (K2 MC, k3 CC1, k1 MC) around. Round 7: (K3 MC, k1 CC1, k2 MC) around.

Green Zigzag Pattern (Chart B)

Round 1: (K2 CC1, k1 MC, k3 CC1) around. Round 2: (K1 CC1, k1 MC, k1 CC1, k1 MC, k2 CC1) around. Round 3: (K1 MC, k1 CC1, k1 CC2, k1 CC1, k1 MC, k1 CC1) around. Round 4: (K1 CC1, k1 CC2, k1 CC1, k1 CC2, k1 CC1, k1 MC) around. Round 5: (K1 CC2, k3 CC1, k1 CC2, k1 CC1) around. Round 6: (K5 CC1, k1 CC2) around.

Yellow Diamond Pattern (Chart C)

Round 1: (K3 CC2, k1 CC1, k2 CC2) around. Round 2: (K2 CC2, k3 CC1, k1 CC2) around. Round 3: (K1 CC2, k2 CC1) around. Round 4: (K2 CC1,k3 CC2, k1 CC1) around. Round 5: (K1 CC2, k2 CC1) around. Round 6: (K2 CC2, k3 CC1, k1 CC2) around. Round 7: (K3 CC2, k1 CC1, k2 CC2) around.

White Zigzag Pattern (Chart D)

Round 1: (K2 MC, k1 CC2, k3 MC) around. Round 2: (K1 MC, k1 CC2, k1 MC, k1 CC2, k2 MC) around. Round 3: (K1 CC2, k1 MC, k1 CC1, k1 MC, k1 CC2, k1 MC)around. Round 4: (K1 MC, k1 CC1, k1 MC, k1 CC1, k1 MC, k1 CC2)around. Round 5: (K1 CC1, k3 MC, k1 CC2, k1 MC) around. Round 6: (K5 MC, k1 CC1) around.

Color Change A

Round 1: Knit MC. Round 2:Purl CC2. Round 3: Knit CC1. Round 4: Purl CC2. Round 5: Knit MC. Round 6: Purl CC2.

Color Change B

Round 1: Knit CC2. Round 2: Purl CC1. Round 3: Knit MC. Round 4: Purl CC1. Round 5: Knit CC2. Round 6: Purl CC1.

Color Change C

Round 1: Knit CC1. Round 2: Purl MC. Round 3: Knit CC2. Round 4: Purl MC. Round 5: Knit CC1. Round 6: Purl MC.

Directions

Body

With CC1 and smaller circular needles, cast on 144 (156,168,180,192,204,216,228,240) stitches.Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist stitches, andplaceuniquemarkertoindicatestartofround and second marker after first 72 (78,84, 90, 96,102, 108, 114, 120) stitches. Ribbing round: (K2, p1) around. Work ribbing as set for 1" (2.5cm). Switch to larger needles and knit 3 rounds in MC. Work White Diamond Pattern (Chart A) over next 7 rounds. Knit 3 rounds in MC..

SHAPE WAIST

Round 1: With CC1, \*k1, k2tog, knit to 3 stitches before marker, ssk, k1, slip marker; repeat from \* once more. 4 stitches decreased. Round 2: With MC, purl. Round 3: With CC2, \*k1, k2tog, knit to 3 stitches before marker, ssk, k1, slip marker; repeat from \* once more. 4 stitchesdecreased. Round 4: Repeat Round 2. Round 5: Repeat Round 1. 4 stitches decreased. Round 6: Repeat Round 2. Round 7: With CC2, \*k1, k2tog, knit to 3 stitches before marker, ssk, k1, slip marker; repeat from \* once more. 4 stitches decreased. Round 8: With CC2, knit. Repeat Rounds 7-8 twice more. 120 (132, 144, 156, 168, 180, 192, 204, 216) stitches. Work 6 rounds of Color Change A. Knit 3 rounds in CC1. Work Green Zigzag Pattern (Chart B) over the next 6 rounds. Knit 3 rounds in CC1.

SHAPE BUST

Round 1: With CC2, \*k1, m1R, knit to 1 stitch before marker, m1L, k1, slip marker; repeat from \* once more. 4 stitchesincreased. Round 2: With CC1, purl. Round 3: With MC, knit. Round 4: Repeat Round 2. Round 5: Repeat Round 1. 4 stitches increased. Round 6: Repeat Round 2. Rounds 7-8: With MC, knit. Round 9: With MC, \*k1, m1R, knit to 1 stitch before marker, m1L, k1, slip marker; repeat from \* once more. 132 (144, 156, 168, 180, 192, 204, 216, 228) stitches. Knit 3 rounds in MC. Work 6 rounds of Color Change C. Change to CC2 and knit 3 rounds. Work Yellow Diamond Pattern (Chart C) over the next 7 rounds. Knit 3 rounds in CC2. Work 6 rounds of Color Change A. Change to CC1 and knit 1 round. Next round: With CC1, \*knit to 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7) stitches before marker, bind off 6 (6, 8, 8, 10, 10, 12, 12, 14) stitches, repeat from \* once more. Knit to first set of bound-off stitches. 60 (66,70,76, 82, 86, 90, 96,100) stitches each in front and back. Set aside Body, with yarn attached, and work sleeves using new balls of yarn.

Sleeves (Make Two)

Using smaller double pointed needles and CC1, cast on 48 (54, 54, 60, 66, 66,72,78, 84) stitches. Join to work in the round, placing unique marker to indicate beginning of round. Ribbing round: (K2, p1) around. Work ribbing as set for 1" (2.5cm). Change to CC2 and knit 6 rounds. Work 6 rounds of Color Change A. Knit 3 rounds in CC1. Change to larger double pointed needles and work Green Zigzag Pattern (Chart B) over the next 6 rounds. Knit 3 rounds in CC1. Work 6 rounds of Color Change B. Change to MC and knit 6 rounds. Work 6 rounds of Color Change C. Change to CC2 and knit 3 rounds. Work Yellow Diamond Pattern (Chart C) over the next 7 rounds. Knit 3 rounds in CC2. Work 6 rounds of Color Change A. Change to CC1 and knit 1 round, ending round 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7) stitches before marker. Bind off 6 (6, 8, 8, 8, 10, 12, 12, 14) stitches, removing marker, and break yarn (leaving a tail of at least 6 inches). Place remaining 42 (48, 46, 52, 58, 56, 60, 66, 70) stitches on stitch holder, waste yarn, or a spare circular needle. Make a second sleeve, leaving remaining stitches on needle.

Yoke

Using larger circular needle and CC1 still attached to Body, place beginning-of-round marker, knit held stitches of one sleeve, knit across one set of held stitches to next set of bound-off stitches,knit held stitches of second sleeve, knit remaining stitches of body to end of round.204 (228,232,256,280,284,300,324,340) stitches. Knit 6 (6, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 12, 12) rounds in CC1. Next Round: With CC1, knit, decreasing 0 (0, 4, 4, 4, 2, 0, 0, 4) stitches evenly across round. 204 (228, 228, 252, 276, 282, 300, 324, 336) stitches. Work 6 rounds of Color Change B. Knit 2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5) rounds in MC. Work 6 rounds of White Zigzag Pattern (Chart D) Knit 0 (0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) rounds in MC. Next Round: With MC, knit, decreasing 4 (3, 3, 2, 1, 2, 0,4,1) stitches evenly across round.200 (225,225,250, 275, 280, 300, 320, 335) stitches. Decrease Round 1: (K3, k2tog) around. 160 (180, 180, 200, 220, 224, 240, 256, 268) stitches. Work 6 rounds of Color Change C. Decrease Round 2: With CC2, (k2, k2tog) around. 120 (135,135,150,165,168,180,192,201) stitches. Change to CC2 and knit 3 (4, 3, 4, 3, 5, 5, 4, 5) rounds. Decrease Round 3: With CC1, (k1, k2tog) around. 80 (90) 90, 100, 110, 112, 120, 128, 134) stitches. With CC1, knit 2 rounds. Work 6 rounds of Color Change A. Knit 3 rounds in CC1, increasing 1 (0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1) stitch or decreasing 0 (0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0) stitch during last round. 81 (90, 90, 99,111,111,120, 129,129) stitches. Change to smaller needles and work (k2, p1) ribbing for 3 rounds. Bind off in pattern.