Juniper Moon Farm Jumper Knitting Pattern

Juniper Moon Farm Arabella Pullover

What is Being Made

The Arabella Pullover is a yoked pullover sweater designed by Melissa Leapman as part of the Berkshires Collection. This garment is available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X-Large, with finished bust measurements from 38¾ inches (98.5 cm) to 50¾ inches (129 cm) and lengths from 24½ inches (62 cm) to 26¼ inches (66.5 cm). The pullover features a classic crew neck construction with a fitted yoke that gradually increases to accommodate the full bust width.

Knitting Techniques

The Arabella Pullover is constructed using several advanced knitting techniques that create both structural integrity and visual interest:

• Top-Down Construction: The sweater is worked from the top down, beginning at the neckline and progressing toward the hem. This method allows for easy fitting adjustments and the ability to try on the garment as it develops.
• Worked in the Round: The entire pullover is knitted in the round using circular needles, which creates seamless fabric and eliminates the need for seaming. This technique produces a more polished, professional finish.
• Stranded Colorwork: The design incorporates two-color stranded colorwork (also known as Fair Isle knitting), where two colors are carried simultaneously across the fabric. The pattern notes that knitters should be mindful of stranding techniques, particularly when a yarn will be carried behind three or more stitches, requiring careful tension management to prevent loose floats.
• Yoke Shaping: The pullover features a fitted yoke with strategic increases that shape the garment from the narrow shoulders to the wider bust area.

Stitches Used

The Arabella Pullover primarily employs Stockinette stitch as its foundation fabric. This stitch creates a smooth, classic knit surface that serves as the base for both single-color sections and the two-color stranded colorwork sections. Additional stitch techniques include M1 (Make 1) increases, worked by inserting the left-hand needle from front to back under the running thread between stitches and knitting through the back loop to create new stitches for shaping. SSK (slip, slip, knit) decreases are used to shape the garment, particularly in the yoke area. The pattern also incorporates knit and purl stitches as needed for construction details.

Materials and Gauge

The Arabella Pullover is worked in Juniper Moon Farm La Pampa, a yarn available in five coordinating colors for this design. The color palette includes Ivory (color 106) as the primary color, with accent colors of Carmine (color 112), Rose (color 114), Graphite (color 102), and Smoke (color 104). Each hank weighs 100 grams, with yardage requirements varying by size: the smallest size requires 4 hanks of Ivory, 1 hank of Carmine, 1 hank of Rose, 1 hank of Graphite, and 1 hank of Smoke, while larger sizes require increased quantities of the main and some accent colors.

The pattern calls for US 10½/6.5mm circular needles in three lengths—16 inches (40 cm), 24 inches (60 cm), and 32 inches (80 cm)—to accommodate the changing stitch counts as the sweater expands from the yoke to the body. US 10½/6.5mm double-pointed needles are used for the ribbed cuffs and neckline finishing. A stitch marker is required to track the beginning of rounds.

The gauge is 12 stitches and 16 rounds to 4 inches (10 cm) when measured over both single-color Stockinette stitch and two-color stranded Stockinette stitch in the blocked state. The pattern notes that many knitters require a larger needle size when working stranded colorwork compared to single-color knitting, as the floats carried on the wrong side can tighten the fabric. Checking gauge in both stitch patterns before beginning is essential to ensure proper fit and drape of the finished garment.