Classic Elite Yarns Beacon Jumper Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Beacon Sweater

What is Being Made

Beacon is a uniquely constructed tank or short-sleeve sweater designed by Susan Mills and originally published in Spring 2012 in the Lighthouse collection. This garment features an innovative geometric construction with hexagon motifs and side triangles, offering both sleeveless and sleeved versions in a single pattern. The design is suitable for experienced knitters seeking a distinctive, structured silhouette with architectural interest.

Construction and Techniques

Beacon is worked bottom-up and primarily in the round using circular needles, which creates a seamless construction that minimizes finishing work. The pattern incorporates lace elements through its hexagon side triangle motifs, adding visual texture and dimension to the finished piece. The garment begins with a lower ribbed band worked in the round, followed by the addition of side triangles that create the distinctive geometric shaping. Two pattern versions are provided—one sleeveless and one with sleeves—allowing knitters to choose their preferred style while sharing the same foundational construction for the lower ribbing, side triangles, and front and back hexagon sections.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern employs several key knitting techniques and stitches:

• 2 x 2 Rib: Used for the lower ribbing in both flat and circular versions. The circular version alternates knit 2, purl 2 around each round, while the flat version varies between wrong-side and right-side rows. This ribbing provides elasticity and structure at the garment's base.
• Cable crosses: Multiple cable abbreviations are used throughout, including C3B (slip 1 to cable needle, hold in back, knit 2, knit 1 from cable needle), T3B (slip 1 to cable needle, hold in back, knit 2, purl 1 from cable needle), C3F (slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in front, knit 1, knit 2 from cable needle), T3F (slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in front, purl 1, knit 2 from cable needle), and C4B (slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold in back, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle). These twisted and cable stitches create the textured hexagon and side triangle motifs.
• Hexagon and Side Triangle Charts: The pattern includes charted lace sections that form the distinctive geometric shapes. These are worked over specific stitch counts that vary by size, with instructions for shifting the beginning of round and using backward loop cast-on methods for seamless integration.
• Decreases: The pattern references ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit 2 together) decreases in certain size variations, which help shape the geometric motifs.

Materials

This pattern is designed to be worked with Classic Elite Yarns products, reflecting the brand's commitment to outstanding yarns and brilliant designs. Knitters will need circular needles in an appropriate size for their chosen yarn weight, with the pattern specifying longer circular needles for the initial cast-on of 168 (184, 200, or 216) stitches depending on size. A cable needle is required for executing the cable and twisted stitches that form the pattern's signature hexagon details. Stitch markers are necessary for tracking the beginning of round during seamless in-the-round construction.

Skill Level

Beacon is rated for Experienced knitters, reflecting the complexity of working charted lace patterns, managing multiple cable crosses, and executing seamless in-the-round construction with geometric shaping.