Leaf Jumper Knitting Pattern

Leaf in MODE at Rowan Alpaca Wool – Knitted Sweater for Children

What is Being Made

This is a Mini Leaf children's knitted sweater designed by Quail Studio. The garment is available in five size options ranging from 3–4 years through 11–12 years, with actual chest measurements from 24¾ inches (63 cm) to 32¾ inches (83 cm). The sweater features a classic pullover construction with set-in sleeves and a fitted neckband, making it suitable for everyday wear for young children.

Techniques Used

This beginner-level knitting project employs several fundamental garment construction techniques. The sweater is worked in pieces – the back, front, and sleeves are knitted separately before being joined together. Moss stitch serves as the primary stitch pattern throughout the entire garment, creating a textured, reversible fabric. The pattern incorporates sleeve shaping through strategic increases at each end of the sleeve, worked at regular intervals (every 6th row, then every 8th row depending on size). Shoulder shaping is achieved through successive cast-offs at the beginning of rows, and neck shaping is managed by placing stitches on holders and working each side separately. The neckband is picked up using circular needles and worked in the round, a common finishing technique in sweater construction. Assembly utilizes the mattress stitch, a seaming method that creates nearly invisible joins between pieces.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout this design is moss stitch (also known as seed stitch), which alternates knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard pattern to create texture and visual interest. The pattern notation shows moss stitch worked as follows: Row 1 alternates K1 (knit one stitch) and P1 (purl one stitch) across the row; Row 2 reverses this pattern to maintain the moss stitch texture. This stitch is worked consistently across the back, front, sleeves, and neckband. The pattern also employs cast-on and cast-off techniques for edge finishing, and increases (Inc 1 st) for sleeve shaping and decreases inherent in the cast-off shaping rows.

Materials and Tools

The sweater is knitted using Alpaca Wool yarn from the Mode at Rowan collection. The yarn is supplied in 50-gram balls, with yardage requirements varying by size: 7 balls for sizes 3–4 and 5–6 years, 8 balls for sizes 7–8 and 9–10 years, and 9 balls for size 11–12 years. The photographed sample is worked in French 013, a colorway option within the Alpaca Wool range. Knitting needles required include 4mm (US 6) straight needles for the main body pieces and 4mm (US 6) circular needles measuring 40 cm for working the neckband in the round. The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 36 rows to 10 cm measured over moss stitch using 4mm needles – achieving correct tension is essential for proper fit across all five size options. Additional notions include stitch holders for temporarily securing stitches during construction and stitch markers to help track pattern repeats and shaping points.