Willow & Lark Samantha Jumper Knitting Pattern

Willow & Lark Samantha Jumper: Colour Fairisle Knitted Jumper

What Is Being Made

The Samantha Jumper is a contemporary fairisle knitted jumper from the Wilderness Collection by Willow & Lark. This piece features a striking arrow pattern worked in two contrasting colours, offering knitters the creative choice of working light motifs on a darker background or dark motifs on a light background. The jumper is designed to fit bust sizes from 81cm to 107cm (32in to 42in), with lengths ranging from 55cm to 60cm at the shoulder.

Techniques Used

The Samantha Jumper employs several key knitting techniques suitable for intermediate-level crafters:

• Stranded Fairisle: The primary decorative technique, where two colours are carried across the row to create the arrow pattern. This method requires managing multiple yarn strands simultaneously to maintain even tension and prevent loose floats.
• Worked Flat: The garment is constructed using flat knitting rather than in the round, meaning pieces are knitted back and forth on straight needles before assembly.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The jumper is knitted from the lower edges upward toward the shoulders, allowing for straightforward length adjustments during the knitting process.
• Seamed Assembly: Individual pieces—front, back, and sleeves—are knitted separately and then seamed together to create the finished garment.

Stitches Used

The pattern relies on fundamental knitting stitches executed with precision:

• Stocking Stitch: Used for the base fabric in non-patterned sections, creating a smooth, flat surface with a characteristic V-pattern on the right side.
• Fairisle Pattern Stitches: Knit stitches worked in alternating colours to build the arrow motif across the chest and body of the jumper.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The pattern is designed specifically for Willow & Lark Woodland yarn, a premium blend comprising 50% wool, 25% alpaca, and 25% viscose. This fibre composition creates a garment with warmth, softness, and subtle sheen. The yarn is supplied in 50g balls (1.7oz). Yarn quantities vary by size: colour A (the background colour) requires 2 to 3 balls depending on size, while colour B (the pattern colour) requires 4 to 6 balls. The pattern suggests alternative colourways including Heather and Plover Grey for colour A, and Black and Juniper Berry for colour B.

Needles: Three different needle sizes are required to achieve proper tension and fabric structure:

• 3.25mm (UK 10 / US 3) straight needles for ribbed edgings
• 4.00mm (UK 8 / US 6) straight needles for stocking stitch sections
• 4.50mm (UK 7 / US 7) straight needles for fairisle pattern work
• 3.25mm (UK 10 / US 3) circular needle for neckband finishing

Tension and Gauge

Achieving correct tension is essential for this project. Over stocking stitch using 4.00mm needles, the target gauge is 21 stitches and 28 rows per 10cm (4in). Over the fairisle pattern using 4.50mm needles, the gauge is 27 stitches and 25 rows per 10cm (4in). Knitters should swatch before beginning to ensure their needle size produces the correct tension, as variations in individual tension and yarn characteristics may require needle size adjustments.

Difficulty Level and Skills Required

This pattern is rated as intermediate, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle multi-colour work. Essential skills include proficiency with fairisle knitting—the ability to manage two colours simultaneously while maintaining even tension and neat floats—as well as competence with seaming techniques to join the finished pieces.