Juniper Moon Farm Jumper Knitting Pattern

Juniper Moon Farm Lara Pullover by Melissa Leapman

What is Being Made

The Lara pullover is a seamless, top-down knit sweater from the Aspen Collection, designed by Melissa Leapman. This garment is available in six sizes ranging from Small through 3X, with finished bust measurements from 36¼ inches (92.5 cm) to 56 inches (142 cm) and finished lengths from 24 inches (61 cm) to 26½ inches (67.5 cm). The pullover features a classic crew neckline construction and is worked entirely in the round for a polished, professional finish.

Techniques Used

The Lara pullover employs several advanced knitting techniques that create visual interest and demonstrate skilled construction methods:

• Seamless, Top-Down Construction: The sweater is worked from the neckband downward in a single piece, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a continuous garment. This method allows knitters to try on the sweater as it progresses and adjust the length to personal preference.
• Worked in the Round: Using circular needles, the entire garment is knitted in continuous rounds, which creates smooth stockinette fabric and reduces finishing work.
• Lace Patterning: The yoke features a lace chart that creates decorative openwork details. The lace pattern is worked during the yoke shaping phase, adding visual sophistication to the neckline and upper body area.
• Yoke Shaping: The pattern uses a yoke chart to shape the upper body, with strategic increases that transition from the narrow neckband to the wider body circumference. The yoke is worked over approximately 8 to 10½ inches (20.5 to 26.5 cm) depending on size.

Stitches Used

The Lara pullover utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with lace techniques:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch used for the body and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic fabric.
• Garter Stitch: Applied at the hem of the pullover, created by alternating purl and knit rounds (three times) before binding off, producing a textured, elastic edge.
• Lace Stitches: Incorporated into the yoke chart, combining knit stitches with yarn overs and decreases to create openwork patterns that add elegance to the upper body.

Materials and Tools

The Lara pullover is knitted using Juniper Moon Farm Mallow yarn in color 107 Denim. The yarn quantity required depends on the size selected, ranging from 5 to 7 skeins of 75-gram weight. The pattern requires multiple circular needles and double-pointed needles in different sizes to accommodate the various stages of construction. Size US 10 (6mm) needles are used for the yoke and initial body work, while size US 11 (8mm) needles are employed for the main body and sleeves. Circular needle lengths include 16-inch, 24-inch, and 32-inch options to accommodate the increasing stitch counts as the garment expands. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and round beginnings, and waste yarn for temporarily holding sleeve stitches during the division phase.