MillaMia Maja Jumper Knitting Pattern

MillaMia Maja Jumper: Intarsia Knit Sweater for Children

What Is Being Made

The MillaMia Maja Jumper is a children's knitted sweater designed for ages 2-3 through 5-6 years. This garment features a playful intarsia design with large circular motifs worked into the body, making it an excellent project for knitters looking to develop their colorwork skills. The sweater is available in four size options with chest measurements ranging from 63cm to 75cm, and finished lengths from 32cm to 41cm, ensuring a proper fit across the toddler and young child age range.

Techniques and Construction Method

The Maja Jumper is constructed using a bottom-up seamed approach, meaning the body and sleeves are knitted separately from the lower edges upward, then assembled together. This method allows for easier fitting adjustments and is particularly practical for children's garments. The sweater is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, which simplifies the intarsia colorwork process.

The primary technique featured in this design is intarsia, a colorwork method that involves using separate lengths of yarn for different colored areas. The pattern specifically recommends using small amounts of yarn for each color area and twisting yarns on the wrong side to prevent holes from forming. This technique is ideal for the large circular motifs that form the focal point of the design, as the bigger shapes are easier to work and allow knitters to clearly see their progress compared to the chart without confusion.

Stitches Used

The Maja Jumper is primarily constructed in stockinette stitch (abbreviated as st st), which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric. The pattern notes indicate that odd-numbered rows are knit rows (read from right to left) and even-numbered rows are purl rows (read from left to right), which is standard for flat knitting in stockinette stitch. The pattern also references garter stitch (g-st) in the abbreviations section, though specific applications are detailed in the full pattern instructions.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Maja Jumper is designed to be knitted with MillaMia Naturally Soft Cotton, a yarn exclusively available through Love Knitting. This cotton yarn is ideal for children's garments due to its softness and breathability. The pattern requires:

• Two 50g/1¾oz balls of MillaMia Naturally Soft Cotton in French Navy (320) for the main color (A)
• One ball each of Flamingo (341) for color B, Off White (311) for color C, and Baby Blue (323) for color D

The pattern encourages customization through suggested alternative colorways, allowing knitters to choose different combinations such as Sweetpea, Mid Grey, Indigo, Pure White, Candy Pink, or Purple as the main background color, paired with complementary accent colors for the circular motifs.

Needles and Gauge

The Maja Jumper is knitted using 3.25mm (US 3) needles. The pattern specifies a tension of 25 stitches and 34 rows to a 10cm square over stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly in children's garments where size accuracy is important for comfort and growth room.

Skill Level and Design Features

Rated as an Improving difficulty level, the Maja Jumper is suitable for knitters with some experience who are ready to tackle intermediate techniques. The pattern specifically positions the intarsia colorwork as a learning opportunity, with the large circular motifs designed to build confidence and skill in this technique. The design notes suggest that allowing children to choose their favorite colors for the circles adds a personal, playful element to the finished sweater, while pairing these with lighter and softer hues in the background creates a balanced, visually appealing garment.