Malabrigo Vandam Jumper Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Vandam Knitted Sweater

What is Being Made

The Malabrigo Vandam is an intermediate-level two-color poncho sweater designed by Audrey Drysdale. This garment features a distinctive V-striped color-work design along the upper body, combining two contrasting colors in a sophisticated poncho-style silhouette. The sweater is sized for Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large, with the pattern shown in Medium size.

Garment Specifications

• Bust measurements: 46(50,56,60) inches / 117(127,142,152) centimeters
• Length: 25(25½,26,26½) inches / 63.5(65,66,67) centimeters
• Skill level: Intermediate

Knitting Techniques Used

The Vandam employs several advanced knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive aesthetic. The sweater is worked flat on a circular needle using bottom-up construction, allowing knitters to build the garment from the lower edge upward. The design incorporates cable stitching as a central design element, featuring a prominent 24-stitch cable panel that measures 8 inches (20.5 centimeters) wide. The sweater utilizes the intarsia technique for color changes along the V-stepped line of the upper body, where two colors are twisted together at color transitions to prevent holes in the finished work. The garment is seamed, meaning pieces are knitted separately and then joined together.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Vandam features a twisted k1, p1 ribbed stitch as the foundation texture, which appears throughout the garment and provides structure and elasticity. The ribbing is worked until the piece measures 2½ inches (6.5 centimeters) from the cast-on edge. A 24-stitch cable panel serves as the focal point of the back piece, positioned between stitch markers and worked according to a specific cable pattern repeat. The pattern incorporates increases worked into the ribbed sections to transition from the ribbed lower body to the wider upper body sections. The color-work section employs V-striped lines created through color displacement techniques, where the secondary color is introduced and worked using cable explanations from the stitch glossary before color displacement is applied.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Malabrigo Vandam is designed to be worked with Rastaby by Malabrigo yarn, a super-wash merino wool blend. Each hank weighs 5¼ ounces (150 grams) and provides approximately 90 yards (83 meters) of yardage. The color palette consists of two colors: #005 Aniversario (Color A) and #023 Pagoda (Color B). Yardage requirements vary by size: the Small and Medium sizes require 6 hanks of Aniversario and 4 hanks of Pagoda, while the Large size requires 7 hanks of Aniversario and 5 hanks of Pagoda, and the X-Large size requires 8 hanks of Aniversario and 5 hanks of Pagoda.

Needles and Notions

This pattern requires one size 15 (10mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches (60 centimeters) long, or the size needed to obtain proper gauge. Additional notions include a cable needle for manipulating stitches in the cable panel, stitch holders for temporarily holding stitches, stitch markers to denote pattern sections and increases, and a tapestry needle for seaming pieces together and weaving in yarn ends.

Gauge Information

Achieving proper gauge is essential for this project. The pattern specifies 10 stitches and 12 rows equal 4 inches (10 centimeters) when measured over the twisted k1, p1 ribbed stitch using a size 15 (10mm) needle. The 24-stitch cable panel should measure 8 inches (20.5 centimeters) wide. Knitters are advised to take time to check their gauges before beginning the project to ensure the finished garment matches the intended measurements.

Construction Method

The Vandam is constructed using a