Pumpkin Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Pumpkin Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern by Plymouth Yarn

What Is Being Made

This is a charted knitting pattern for a children's pumpkin-themed sweater jumper designed by Plymouth Yarn. The garment features a pumpkin face motif worked in intarsia on the front, making it an ideal seasonal or Halloween-inspired project. The pattern is available in five sizes ranging from 2 to 10, with finished chest measurements from 24.5 inches up to 34 inches, accommodating toddlers through older children.

Techniques Used

The Pumpkin Sweater employs several fundamental knitting techniques to create both structure and visual interest. Garter stitch is used for the ribbed cuffs and decorative bands throughout the garment, providing elasticity and a classic finished edge. Stockinette stitch forms the main body of the sweater, creating a smooth, flat fabric ideal for displaying the pumpkin design. Intarsia charting is the primary decorative technique, with a 45-row chart worked on the front piece that creates the pumpkin face using multiple colors. The pattern also incorporates neck shaping through strategic decreases worked on both sides simultaneously, allowing the neckline to fit properly around the child's head. Ribbing in a K2, P2 pattern is used at the cuffs and waistband to create fitted edges that hold their shape.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K) — the fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl stitch (P) — used in ribbing patterns and reverse stockinette applications
• Garter stitch — created by knitting every row, used for borders and cuff bands
• Stockinette stitch (St st) — knit on right-side rows and purl on wrong-side rows, forming the main body fabric
• K2, P2 ribbing — alternating knit and purl stitches in a 2x2 pattern for elasticated edges
• Decreases — worked at the neckline to shape the garment opening
• Cast on and bind off — essential edge techniques used throughout

Materials and Gauge

This pattern calls for Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted, a durable worsted-weight yarn. The main color (MC) is 217 Black, which provides contrast for the pumpkin design. Three contrast colors (CC) are required: 1383 Orange for the pumpkin body, 1008 Marle for the sleeves, and 054 Green for accent details. Yardage requirements vary by size, with smaller sizes needing 3 balls of 100g in the main color, while larger sizes require 4 balls. One ball each of the three contrast colors is sufficient for all sizes, with the green used only in small quantities.

The pattern is worked on US size 5 and US size 7 needles, with the smaller needles used for ribbed cuffs and the larger needles for the main stockinette body. A 16-inch circular needle in size 5 is specified for the neckband. The working gauge is 20 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the larger needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Pattern Construction

The sweater is constructed in pieces: a back, front, and two sleeves that are later seamed together. The back piece begins with a cast-on worked in the orange contrast color with garter stitch, followed by color changes and ribbing to create a decorative striped cuff effect. The front follows the same cuff construction but includes the charted pumpkin motif worked over 45 rows in the center of the piece. The neckline is shaped by binding off center stitches and working decreases on both sides simultaneously until the proper neck opening is achieved. The sleeves are worked from the cuff upward, beginning with the same striped garter and ribbed cuff pattern as the body pieces, then continuing in stockinette with the marle contrast color.

Finished Garment Details

The completed sweater provides a classic pullover silhouette suitable for children. The pumpkin face chart on the front creates a focal point that is both playful and age-appropriate. The combination of black as the main color with orange, marle, and green accents produces a striking color palette perfect for autumn wear. The five