A Story Woven in Stitches.

When I was a child, my grandmother would tell me a Haitian folktale about a mistreated little girl and an orange tree. In this story, the young girl’s beautiful song encourages her magic orange tree to grow and bloom. With some wit, she uses her magic orange tree to save herself from her evil stepmother. I used to imagine the tree, tall with branches full of magic to design this sweater.

Ti Pye Zoranj, means “little orange tree” in Haitian Creole. It is my homage to that story, to my grandmother’s voice, and to the traditions that live on in the quiet rhythm of stitches.

This circular yoke pullover is worked bottom up in the round, so you can sing as your magic tree grows. Cabled trunk and branches stretch towards the yoke and just when the trees seem bare, the yoke bursts into leafy green colorwork, a symbol of life and spirit. After the sweater is knit, white embroidered leaves and small orange circles are added by hand to bring the fruit to life. It’s tactile storytelling. It’s heirloom knitting. Check out the story and beautiful song here.

Why You’ll Want to Knit This:

• It’s a wearable story. You’re not just knitting a sweater.
• The details are rich but meditative. The motif work is rhythmic and satisfying; the embroidery adds a creative flourish.
• It’s an art piece you can wear. The design turns heads while remaining deeply personal and symbolic.
• It’s customizable. Embroider as many or as few oranges as you like. Make the tree yours.
• It connects you to something bigger. This sweater honors ancestors, growth, and the unseen roots that hold us all.

Make it your own, but carry the story with you.
It has taken me a long time to release this pattern after the rights reverted back to me. I often bounced around the idea of rebranding it as a Apple tree sweater for fall apple picking, but I realized I’d be erasing a whole culture, my identity because society has taught me that my stories are not important enough for others to care. I designed Ti Pye Zoranj from a memory, but it’s not mine alone. It’s for anyone who’s ever been told a story passed down from generation to generation. This sweater is for those who want their sweaters to mean something; for knitters who believe craft is magic.

Special techniques: 2x2 Italian Cast-on, Elastic bind off, short rows, embroidery

11 Adult sizes shown as A, B, C, D (E, F, G, H) I, J, K worn with 2-4 in positive ease at chest.
Garment Bust Circumference: 32, 36, 40, 44 (48, 52, 56, 60) 64, 68, 72 inches | 80, 90, 100, 110 (120, 130, 140, 150) 160, 170, 180 cm.

YARN
Five Borough Yarns . DK, 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon, 100 grams / 245 yards / 224 meters;
MC 960, 1330, 1580, 1890 ( 2130, 2340, 2450, 2620) 2740, 2820, 2960 yards in Prosecco,
C1 290, 330, 410, 490 ( 530, 610, 660, 720) 740, 770, 840 yards in Toil and Trouble,
C2 10 yards in RA, C3 10 yards in Empire snowflake

NOTIONS
Yarn Needle, Scissors, Cable Needle

NEEDLES
US 5 (3.75 mm) circular, or size needed to obtain gauge. 32”/ 80cm or longer cable.
US 4 (3.5 mm) circular, or one size smaller than needle needed to obtain gauge. 32”/ 80cm or
longer cable

GAUGE
24 sts and 36 rows = 4” over Leaves chart blocked.
44 sts and 32 rows = 4” in Cable trunk pattern, blocked.
24 sts and 36 rows = 4” in 2 x 2 ribbing, on smaller needles, blocked.