Classic Elite Yarns Mandara Jumper Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Mandara Striped Raglan Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Mandara is a striped raglan sleeve sweater designed by Susan Mills, originally published in the Sail Away 1703 collection. This pullover-style tee features a relaxed fit with wide stripes in shades of blue, making it an accessible intermediate-level knitting project. The sweater is available in five sizes ranging from XS to XL, with finished bust measurements of 31 (34½, 38, 41½, 45) inches.

Construction Techniques

The Mandara employs a bottom-up construction method that combines circular and flat knitting for efficiency and seamless finishing. The lower body is worked in the round using a longer circular needle, creating a seamless tube from the cast-on edge to the underarms. This circular knitting approach eliminates the need for side seams and ensures consistent fabric quality.

The sleeves are worked flat (in rows) on a shorter circular needle from the bottom up to the underarms, then all pieces are strategically joined together. Once joined, the raglan yoke is worked in one piece in the round, continuing from the underarms to the neck edge. This integrated yoke construction creates the characteristic diagonal raglan shaping that slopes from the underarm to the neckline.

A key technical consideration in this pattern is stripe matching. Knitters must count back 12 rounds from where the stripe pattern ended on the body to ensure the sleeve stripes align perfectly with the body stripes when the pieces are joined at the yoke, creating a cohesive visual design.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the Mandara is stockinette stitch (St st), which creates the smooth, classic knit fabric characteristic of modern sweater design. Stockinette stitch is formed by alternating knit stitches on right-side rows with purl stitches on wrong-side rows when working flat, or by knitting every round when working in the round.

The visual interest of the sweater comes from a Stripe Pattern worked in stockinette stitch. The stripe sequence consists of 8 rounds or rows of color A, followed by 8 rounds or rows of color B, with this 16-round repeat worked continuously throughout the lower body and yoke. This regular stripe pattern in shades of blue creates the wide stripes that define the sweater's aesthetic appeal.

Shaping is accomplished through bind-offs at the underarms to create armhole depth and define the raglan decrease lines, combined with strategic placement markers to track pattern sections and construction points.

Materials: Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The Mandara is designed to showcase Classic Elite Yarns products, known for their outstanding quality and brilliant colorways. While specific yarn weight and yardage requirements are not detailed in the provided pattern excerpt, the project utilizes yarn in multiple colors—specifically shades of blue—to create the signature wide stripe pattern.

Needle requirements include both a longer circular needle for working the lower body and yoke in the round, and a shorter circular needle for working the sleeves flat. Circular needles are essential for this construction method, as they accommodate the large stitch counts required for the body and allow seamless transitions between circular and flat knitting sections.

Additional notions required include stitch markers (abbreviated as "pm" in the pattern) to mark pattern repeats, round beginnings, and section divisions between front, back, and sleeve stitches. Stitch holders are used to temporarily hold stitches—particularly the first sleeve stitches—while other sections are being worked, preventing stitches from unraveling before they are needed for joining.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The Mandara is offered in five sizes: XS, S, M, L, and XL, with the pattern shown in size XS. Finished bust measurements range from 31 inches (XS) to 45 inches (XL), providing options for various body types and fit preferences. The lower body length varies by size, ranging from 12 inches in the smallest size to 15 inches in the largest size, ensuring proportional garment construction.

Skill Level and Pattern Complexity

The Mandara is rated as an Intermediate skill level project, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to tackle more complex construction methods. The combination of circular knitting, flat knitting, stripe pattern