Lana Grossa Kid's Pullover Jumper Knitting Pattern

Lana Grossa Kid's Pullover in Slow Wool Canapa

What is Being Made

This is a classic children's pullover sweater featuring a diamond brocade stitch pattern. The design comes in two sizes: 110/116 and 122/128, making it suitable for kids across a range of ages. The pullover is a timeless wardrobe staple with a crew neckline and long sleeves, designed to be both comfortable and visually interesting through its textured stitch work.

Construction Technique

The pullover is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed, and worked-flat method. This traditional approach means the knitter begins at the lower edge of the body and works upward in flat pieces (rather than in the round), then seams the pieces together at the end. This technique allows for precise shaping and makes it easier to incorporate the diamond brocade pattern consistently throughout the garment.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pullover incorporates two main stitch patterns:

• Rib Pattern: A classic knit 2, purl 2 (K2, P2) ribbing is used, likely for the cuffs, hem, and neckline to provide elasticity and a finished appearance.
• Diamond Brocade: The primary stitch pattern features a diamond brocade design worked from a chart. This pattern repeats over a multiple of 6 stitches plus 1 stitch, plus 2 selvage stitches. The diamond brocade creates a textured, decorative surface that adds visual interest to the sweater while maintaining a relatively simple stitch structure suitable for children's garments.

Shaping Details

The garment features strategic shaping for a well-fitted silhouette. Sleeve increases are worked gradually—beginning with an increase of 1 stitch at each end on the 11th row, then continuing every 10th row for 5 additional times in the smaller size (or alternating every 8th and 10th row 7 times in the larger size), resulting in a sleeve cap with 51 to 55 stitches. Shoulder shaping is achieved through bind-offs worked at regular intervals, and the neckline is shaped by binding off the center stitches and then decreasing along the neck edges on both sides of the front.

Materials and Yarn

The pullover is knit in Lana Grossa Slow Wool Canapa, a yarn composed of 90% superwash Merino wool and 10% hemp. This blend offers durability, easy care, and a subtle texture from the hemp content. The yardage is 100 meters per 50 grams. The pattern calls for 300 grams (350 grams for the larger size) in Greige (color 4) as the main color, with 50 grams each of Brown (color 3) and Fuchsia (color 12) for contrast details or accents in the diamond brocade pattern.

Needles and Tools

The project requires both size 4 mm and size 4.5 mm knitting needles. The size 4 mm needles are used for ribbed sections, while the size 4.5 mm needles are used for the main body and diamond brocade pattern work. A size 4 mm circular needle measuring 40 centimeters long is also needed, likely for picking up stitches around the neckline for finishing.

Pattern Complexity and Suitability

This pullover is an intermediate project that combines basic construction techniques with charted colorwork or textured stitch patterns. The diamond brocade pattern requires following a chart, which adds a layer of complexity beyond simple stockinette stitch. However, the use of flat pieces and seaming makes the overall construction straightforward. The project is well-suited for knitters with some experience who are ready to tackle stitch patterns and garment shaping.