Classic Elite Yarns Fairwood Jumper Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Fairwood Sweater Pattern Summary

Garment Overview

Fairwood is a funnel neck pullover sweater designed by Susan Mills and originally published in Twists and Turns 1510. This intermediate-level knitting project features a distinctive deep rib construction combined with simple cable detailing, making it an ideal layering piece for fall and cooler seasons. The sweater is available in six sizes ranging from XS to 2XL, with finished bust measurements from 31 inches to 51 inches and total length from 23 inches to 26 inches from cast-on edge to the base of the funnel neck.

Construction Techniques

Fairwood is constructed using a bottom-up, worked-flat approach with seamed construction. The pattern begins with a cast-on at the lower edge and progresses upward through the body before shaping occurs at the armholes and shoulders. The back and front pieces are worked separately in flat rows, then seamed together. This method allows for straightforward shaping and makes it easy to try on the garment as you progress. The funnel neck is worked in continuation from the shoulder shaping, creating a seamless transition to the neckline.

Stitch Patterns and Techniques

The pattern employs two primary stitch patterns working in tandem:

• Rope Cable: A featured stitch pattern that repeats over a multiple of 12 stitches plus 6. This cable pattern uses C6B (cable 6 back) cable crosses and alternates between knit and purl stitches to create the rope texture. The Rope Cable is worked over the center of the garment, with the pattern repeating every 8 rows. The cable crosses occur on Row 1 (right side), with subsequent rows establishing the contrast between the knit and purl columns that define the cable's visual depth.
• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st): Worked on both sides of the central cable panel. This stitch creates a subtle textured background that frames the cables and provides visual balance to the design.
• Ribbing: A deep 2x2 rib (alternating 2 knits and 2 purls) is worked at the lower edge of the sweater, creating elasticity and a fitted finish at the hem. This ribbing is worked for approximately 5½ to 7 inches depending on size before transitioning to the main pattern.

An important design note: during shaping operations where stitches are decreased, if insufficient stitches remain to complete a full 6-stitch cable, the partial cable stitches are worked as they appear—knitting the knits and purling the purls—to maintain pattern integrity through the shaping transitions.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

Fairwood is designed to be worked in Avalanche by Classic Elite Yarns, a premium blend consisting of 42% alpaca, 42% wool, and 16% nylon. This fiber composition provides warmth, softness, and durability. Each 50-gram hank yields approximately 200 yards. The pattern requires 7 to 11 hanks depending on the finished size, with the smallest sizes (XS and S) requiring 7 hanks and the largest size (2XL) requiring 11 hanks. The yarn weight and yardage requirements are suitable for standard knitting needles appropriate to the yarn's gauge.

Pattern Structure and Sizing

The pattern provides detailed shaping instructions for six distinct sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, and 2XL. The cast-on ranges from 82 stitches for the smallest size to 142 stitches for the largest. Each size includes specific stitch counts for the ribbed lower section, the reverse stockinette side panels, and the central rope cable panel. The armhole shaping involves binding off stitches at the beginning of rows, followed by shoulder shaping that occurs over multiple rows. The funnel neck is then worked even in pattern for 2 to 2½ inches before all stitches are bound off loosely in pattern to maintain the textured appearance at the neckline edge.