Wildflowerknits Bryce Canyon Jumper Knitting Pattern

Wildflowerknits Bryce Canyon Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

The Bryce Canyon is a knit sweater designed by Kennita Tully, available in seven sizes ranging from XS to 3X. This pullover-style garment features a classic construction with finished chest measurements from 33.75 inches (XS) to 57.75 inches (3X) and finished lengths ranging from 22.5 inches to 29.5 inches depending on size. The sweater is suitable for knitters of all skill levels, with an easy difficulty rating that makes it an accessible project for beginners and experienced crafters alike.

Techniques Used

The Bryce Canyon sweater is constructed using bottom-up construction, meaning the body and sleeves are knit starting from the lower edge and working upward toward the neckline. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward shaping and stitch manipulation. The finished pieces are then seamed together using a tapestry needle, creating clean, professional-looking seams that join the front, back, and sleeves into a cohesive garment.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The primary stitch used throughout the Bryce Canyon is Stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a distinctive V-pattern on the right side. The pattern incorporates several shaping techniques to create a well-fitted garment:

• Decreases are worked strategically for armhole and neckline shaping. On right-side rows, decreases are formed using k2, ssk at the beginning and k2tog, k2 at the end. On wrong-side rows, the pattern uses p2, p2tog at the beginning and ssp, p2 at the end, maintaining consistent decreases on both sides of the fabric.
• Increases are used for sleeve shaping, worked as M1R (make one right) at the beginning of rows and M1L (make one left) at the end of rows, positioned two stitches in from the edges for a neat appearance.
• Bind-offs are used to shape armholes and necklines, removing groups of stitches at the beginning of rows to create the necessary depth and width for comfortable garment fit.

Materials and Gauge

The Bryce Canyon is knit using Tahki Yarns "Scotland," a fine merino wool yarn that is 100% wool. Each 50-gram ball contains 174 yards of yarn, and the pattern requires 6 to 11 balls depending on the finished size (6 balls for XS and S, 7 balls for M, 8 balls for L, 9 balls for 1X, 10 balls for 2X, and 11 balls for 3X).

The recommended needles are US 7 (4.5mm) straight knitting needles for the main body and sleeves, with a US 7 (4.5mm) 16-inch circular needle used for finishing the neckline trim. A tapestry needle is required for seaming the finished pieces together.

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 18 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Stockinette stitch. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished sweater matches the intended measurements and drapes properly.

Construction Details

The back piece is cast on with 92 to 146 stitches depending on size, then worked in Stockinette stitch with side shaping to create a fitted silhouette. Armhole shaping is accomplished through bind-offs at the beginning of rows followed by decreases worked every right-side row and then every other right-side row. The neckline and shoulder shaping occur simultaneously near the completion of the garment, with the front divided to allow for a comfortable neckline opening. The sleeves are shaped with increases worked at regular intervals to create the proper cap and sleeve length. All seaming is completed after the individual pieces are finished, creating a polished, wearable garment.