Malabrigo Silicon Alley Jumper Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Silicon Alley Textured Striped Pullover

What Is Being Made

The Malabrigo Silicon Alley is an intermediate-level textured striped pullover sweater designed by Rosemary Drysdale. This garment is a classic crewneck pullover available in seven sizes ranging from X-Small to XX-Large, with finished bust measurements from 32½ inches to 44½ inches and finished lengths from 22 inches to 24½ inches. The sweater features a sophisticated color palette combining three distinct yarn colors in a repeating mosaic band stripe pattern that creates visual texture and depth throughout the garment.

Techniques Used

Silicon Alley is constructed using a bottom-up building method, meaning the sweater is worked from the hem upward. The garment is seamless, eliminating the need for seaming after completion and providing a smooth, professional finish. The sweater is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, with pieces joined together using the three-needle bind-off technique. The three-needle bind-off is a professional joining method that creates a strong, finished edge by binding off stitches from two parallel needles simultaneously, eliminating the need for additional seaming at the shoulders.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns Used

The primary stitch pattern is the mosaic band stripe pattern, which repeats over 40 rows and creates the textured striped effect characteristic of this design. The mosaic band pattern is worked over an odd number of stitches and combines knit and purl stitches with slip stitches worked with yarn in back (wyib). This technique creates a dimensional, woven appearance while maintaining a relatively simple stitch sequence. The pattern alternates between knit rows, purl rows, and slip stitch rows in a structured repeat that builds the visual texture. Basic stitches including knit, purl, and slip stitches form the foundation of the pattern, along with decreases worked at the armholes to shape the garment.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Silicon Alley is designed to be worked with Rios by Malabrigo, a superwash merino wool yarn available in 3½ ounce hanks with approximately 210 yards per hank. The pattern calls for three coordinating colors: Black (#195), Purpuras (#872), and Plomo (#43). Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 2 to 4 hanks of Black and 2 hanks each of the Purpuras and Plomo colors depending on the selected size.

The pattern requires two pairs of straight needles in sizes 7 and 4.5mm and size 8 or 5mm, allowing for gauge adjustment and fabric control. A size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches long is also needed for finishing details. The gauge is 20 stitches and 34 rows over 4 inches when working the mosaic band stripe pattern using the larger needles, making accurate gauge checking essential before beginning the project.