Classic Elite Yarns Lara Jumper Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Lara Seamless Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

The Lara is a classic pullover sweater designed by Edith Murphy and originally published in Wooded Glen 1601, a printed collection of designs. This garment is constructed as a fitted, seamless sweater worked primarily in the round, featuring a shaped lower body with strategic shaping, set-in armholes, and adjustable strap details. The design is available in six sizes with graduated measurements to accommodate various body proportions.

Construction Techniques

The Lara employs a bottom-up, seamless construction method worked in the round, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a smooth, continuous fabric. The lower body is worked circularly from the cast-on edge to the underarm, incorporating strategic increases to shape the garment. The pattern uses dart markers positioned at key points to create shaping increases that are distributed evenly across the front and back panels—specifically, 4 stitches are increased per shaping round, with 2 stitches added to both the front and back sections.

After the lower body reaches the appropriate length (8 to 8½ inches depending on size), the back and front are worked separately in rows, transitioning from circular to flat construction. This allows for custom armhole depth and strap length adjustments. The pattern includes detailed notes explaining that armholes are intended to measure approximately 6½ to 8½ inches, with the measurement calculated as the distance from underarm, up and over the shoulder, and down to the opposite underarm. The upper back contributes 1¾ to 4½ inches of this measurement, the upper front contributes 4 to 7¼ inches, and the remaining depth comes from the adjustable straps.

Stitches Used

The Lara features two primary stitch patterns:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The main fabric stitch used throughout the body of the sweater, creating a smooth, classic knit appearance. This stitch is worked in the round for the lower body and in rows for the upper body sections.
• Seed Stitch: Used for the armhole edgings to create a textured, finished border. The pattern provides instructions for both circular and flat versions of seed stitch. When worked in rounds with an odd number of stitches, seed stitch alternates knit and purl stitches (K1, *P1, K1; repeat from *). When worked in rows, all rows follow the same sequence (K1, *P1, K1; repeat from *).

The seed stitch edging is worked in a specific pattern around the armholes, with the stitch pattern expanding from a narrow band to a wider edging that frames the armhole opening and contributes to the garment's finished appearance.

Materials

The Lara is designed to be worked with yarn from Classic Elite Yarns and requires circular needles and stitch markers, including dart markers for shaping placement. The pattern accommodates six different sizes, allowing knitters to customize the finished garment dimensions. Specific yarn weight, yardage requirements, and needle sizes are referenced in the complete pattern documentation.

Sizing and Customization

The pattern is engineered with flexibility in mind. Instructions are provided for customizing the strap length, allowing knitters to adjust the armhole depth and overall fit. The six available sizes offer graduated measurements, with larger sizes featuring longer upper bodies and correspondingly shorter straps to maintain appropriate armhole proportions and prevent excessive depth.