Gardiner Yarn Works Winter Branches Jumper Knitting Pattern

Gardiner Yarn Works Winter Branches Knit Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Winter Branches is a knitted pullover sweater designed by Chrissy Gardiner, sized for XS through XL with bust measurements ranging from 36 to 44 inches and finished lengths from 21 to 25 inches. This garment features a distinctive aesthetic inspired by bare winter branches, created through a simple knit-purl stitch pattern that adds visual texture and interest to the piece. The sweater is designed for comfortable everyday wear with practical details including a wide neckline, saddle shoulders, and side slits that enhance mobility and wearability.

Techniques Used

The Winter Branches sweater is constructed using a bottom-up seamed approach, meaning the body and sleeves are knitted from the lower edge upward and then joined together with seaming. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward construction and shaping. This method is ideal for creating structured pieces with clean seams and is particularly well-suited for advanced beginner knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to tackle garment assembly.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary construction utilizes stockinette stitch (abbreviated st st) as the base fabric, which creates a smooth, classic knit surface. The signature design element is a knit-purl stitch pattern referred to as the Branch Pattern, which is strategically placed across the body of the sweater. This pattern repeats over 24-stitch sections and creates the visual impression of bare winter branches throughout the garment. The pattern also incorporates ribbing at the edges and cuffs, created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a 1x1 configuration, which provides elasticity and helps the garment maintain its shape. Additional techniques include increases (knit-front-and-back) and decreases (knit 2 together) for shaping, along with bind-off techniques for finishing edges.

Materials and Gauge

This project requires worsted-weight yarn in quantities ranging from approximately 1100 yards for the smallest sizes (XS and S) to 1540 yards for the largest sizes (L and XL). The sample garment shown uses Cascade 220 Superwash yarn in color #817. Knitters will need size 7 (4.5mm) needles for the main fabric and size 5 (3.75mm) circular needles (24 inches) for ribbed edgings and neckline work. The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 20 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Additional tools required include stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn for managing stitches during construction, and a yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends.