MillaMia Leka Jumper Knitting Pattern

MillaMia Leka Jumper: Knitted Children's Sweater with Stranded Colorwork

What is Being Made

The MillaMia Leka Jumper is a children's knitted sweater designed for ages 2-3 through 10-11 years. This intermediate-level project creates a fitted pullover garment featuring striking visual interest through color and texture. The pattern also includes instructions for a coordinating Snood (a tubular neckwear accessory) that can be knitted using leftover contrast yarns from the main jumper project.

Techniques Used

Bottom-up construction: The jumper is worked from the lower edge upward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments and intuitive sizing modifications as you progress through the project.

Seamed assembly: Individual pieces are knitted flat and then seamed together, which is a classic approach that provides clean, professional finishing and makes in-progress adjustments straightforward.

Stranded colorwork: The pattern incorporates multiple yarn colors worked simultaneously using the stranded technique, where unused colors are carried across the back of the work. This creates the characteristic floats that add texture and durability to the fabric.

Striped design with slip-stitch detailing: Simple horizontal stripes are punctuated by slip-stitch dots, creating visual texture and pattern interest without the complexity of full Fair Isle motifs. The slip-stitch technique adds dimensional detail while remaining accessible for improving-level knitters.

Worked flat: All pieces are knitted on straight needles rather than in the round, making this project suitable for knitters who prefer flat construction methods.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches including knit and purl stitches for stockinette stitch fabric, slip stitches for the decorative dot details, and standard increases and decreases for shaping the armholes, neckline, and sleeve caps. The slip-stitch technique creates visual dots while maintaining the integrity of the stranded colorwork base.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino is the exclusive yarn specified for this pattern. The jumper requires 3 to 6 balls of 50g/1¾oz main color yarn depending on size, plus one ball each of five to six contrast colors. The Snood uses one ball of main color and leftover contrast colors. MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino is exclusively available through Love Knitting.

Available colorways: Two complete colorway options are provided. The first colorway features Ice as the main color paired with Fuchsia, Ink Blue, Haze Grey, Daisy Yellow, Scarlet, and Peacock. The second colorway uses Tempest Blue as the main color with Berry, Ice, Scarlet, Butterscotch, Peacock, and Claret as contrasts.

Needles: The jumper requires a pair each of 3mm (US 2) and 3.25mm (US 3) knitting needles. The 3mm needles are used for ribbed edgings, while the 3.25mm needles are used for the main fabric. The Snood uses only 3.25mm (US 3) needles.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 25 stitches and 48 rows over a 10cm/4in square in stockinette stitch using 3.25mm (US 3) needles. This relatively fine gauge creates a smooth, refined fabric suitable for children's wear. Five size options are provided, ranging from chest measurements of 62cm (24½in) for ages 2-3 years up to 80cm (31½in) for ages 10-11 years, with proportional adjustments to length and sleeve measurements for each size.

Project Notes

This pattern is rated at Improving skill level, making it ideal for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to explore stranded colorwork and slip-stitch details. The pattern includes helpful hints suggesting online tutorials for slip-stitch techniques, acknowledging that this may be a new technique for some knitters. Crafters with significant leftover contrast yarn are encouraged to knit the matching Leka Cowl as a complementary project.