Mirasol Key Trend Jumper Knitting Pattern

Mirasol Key Trend Pima Splash Sweater

What is Being Made

The Mirasol Key Trend is a close-fitting knitted sweater top designed by Michelle Porter. This garment is suitable for a range of sizes from Small through 3X-Large, with finished bust measurements ranging from approximately 85cm (33½ inches) to 136cm (53 inches). The sweater features a modern, streamlined silhouette with approximately 4–9cm (1½–3½ inches) of ease built into the design, making it an ideal layering piece or standalone top.

Construction Techniques

The Mirasol Key Trend is constructed using seamless, bottom-up knitting worked in the round, a technique that creates a garment with minimal seaming and a polished, professional finish. The body is knitted as one continuous piece using circular needles, eliminating the need for traditional seaming at the sides. This method is particularly valued in modern sweater design because it allows for precise shaping and ensures consistent fabric throughout the garment. The bottom-up construction means knitters begin at the lower edge and work upward toward the neckline and armholes, giving them the ability to try on the garment as it progresses and make adjustments to the length as needed.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used in this design is Stockinette stitch (also called Stocking stitch), which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric with a distinctive V-pattern on the right side. This fundamental knitting stitch is formed by alternating knit and purl rows (or in the round, by knitting every round), and it serves as the base fabric for the entire garment. The pattern includes standard abbreviations such as knit (K), purl (P), yarn over (yo), slip stitches (SKP and SSKP), and various shaping techniques. The tension for this project is set at 18 stitches and 26 rounds over 10cm (4 inches) in blocked Stockinette stitch, which is essential information for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Materials and Tools

The Mirasol Key Trend is designed to be knitted using Mirasol Pima Splash yarn, a premium fiber that showcases the brand's signature color-variation dyeing technique. The yarn is supplied in 100-gram skeins, with yardage requirements varying by size: Small and Medium require 3 skeins each, Large and Medium X-Large require 4 skeins, 2X-Large requires 5 skeins, and 3X-Large requires 6 skeins. The pattern specifies circular needles in size 5mm (US 8)—specifically, one 60cm (24-inch) needle for the body and one 40cm (16-inch) needle for the armholes and neckline. Additional materials include a yarn needle for weaving in ends, a small stitch holder or safety pin for holding stitches temporarily, and stitch markers to track pattern repeats and the beginning of rounds.

Yarn Characteristics and Care Notes

The Pima Splash yarn used in this pattern features a special dyeing technique that creates intentional color variation throughout the fiber. Due to this unique process, excess dye may transfer during the first wash or blocking—this is an expected and desired part of the color effect and not a defect. The pattern recommends hand washing the garment by itself to prevent dye transfer to other pieces. When joining new skeins during knitting, the pattern suggests alternating the new skein with the old skein for a few rows (as if working stripes) before switching entirely to the new skein. This technique helps blend the color variation naturally and creates a more cohesive appearance in the finished garment.

Skill Level and Casting On

The Mirasol Key Trend is rated as an Easy skill level project, making it accessible to knitters with basic to intermediate experience. The pattern recommends using either the thumb method or backward loop method for casting on over the armholes, as these techniques provide a flexible edge that blends seamlessly with the rest of the garment. The initial cast-on for the body begins with 148 stitches for the Small size, increasing incrementally for larger sizes up to 238 stitches for the 3X-Large.