1284 - Daphne - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Kids in Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK by Valley Yarns

Daphne Jumper Knitting Pattern for Kids

What is Being Made

The Daphne is a playful children's knitted sweater designed by Susan Baron, featuring a charming stranded colorwork motif of romping sheep. This jumper is engineered for active children, combining durability with softness. Available in five sizes ranging from 1–2 years through 8–10 years, with the pattern shown in size 6–8 years. The finished chest measurements range from 23¾ inches to 31 inches, designed to fit with 2–4 inches of positive ease for comfortable wear during active play.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting pattern employs multiple construction techniques to create a well-fitted children's garment. The sweater is worked flat for the body and sleeves, allowing knitters to manage the stranded colorwork pattern with ease. The design then transitions to working in the round for seamless finishing at necklines and cuffs. The bottom-up construction method means you begin knitting from the hem and work upward toward the shoulders, making it simple to try on and adjust length as needed. The signature stranded colorwork technique creates the decorative sheep motif, a traditional method where two yarn colors are carried across the row, creating a durable, double-layered fabric that resists pilling and wear—ideal for children's clothing.

Stitches Used

While the pattern documentation focuses on the stranded colorwork technique, standard knitting stitches form the foundation of this design. The pattern utilizes fundamental stitches including knit and purl stitches combined with the stranded colorwork method, where yarn floats are managed on the wrong side of the work. This creates the sheep motif while maintaining an even gauge and consistent fabric quality throughout the garment.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Daphne pattern is specifically designed for Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK, a practical choice for children's garments. This yarn is composed of 100% Extra Fine Superwash Merino wool, offering a soft and squishy hand feel combined with durability and machine-washability—essential qualities for active children's wear.

• Yarn A (Main Color): 4–6 balls of Valley Superwash DK in Color 13-Forest (depending on size), providing the primary sweater color
• Yarn B (Contrast Color): 1–2 balls of Valley Superwash DK in Color 01-Natural (depending on size), used for the stranded sheep motif
• Yarn Weight: DK weight (50g/137 yards per ball), a versatile mid-weight that creates fabric with good drape and durability
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles in 16–24 inch length depending on size, plus double-pointed needles or preferred small circumference needles for working in the round on ribbing and necklines

The Valley Superwash DK yarn's machine-washable properties make this pattern particularly practical for children's knitwear, eliminating the need for delicate hand-washing while maintaining the softness and quality of the finished garment.