Metsän Poika Jumper in Novita Natura - Downloadable PDF

Metsän Poika Jumper in Novita Natura – Pattern Summary

The Metsän Poika Jumper (meaning Forest Boy Sweater in Finnish) is a classically structured children's pullover designed by Lea Petäjä for Novita, worked in the brand's Novita Natura yarn. This is a free downloadable PDF pattern suitable for intermediate knitters, offering a beautifully textured fabric with a nature-inspired aesthetic that suits its woodland name perfectly. The pattern is sized for children with body circumferences ranging from approximately 76 cm to 94 cm (30 to 37 inches), covering garment sizes 130, 140, 150, and 160 cm, making it ideal for school-age children and older kids.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a classic drop-shoulder pullover jumper knitted flat in separate pieces — a back, a front, and two sleeves — which are then seamed together at the shoulders, sides, and sleeve seams. The finished sweater features a folded ribbed neckline worked in the round on a short circular needle. The silhouette is relaxed and comfortable, with inner sleeve lengths ranging from 36 cm to 49 cm and a total body length of 47 cm to 62 cm depending on size. The design is practical, durable, and well-suited to active children who love the outdoors.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Novita Natura in colorway (032) Beard Lichen, a warm, earthy tone that perfectly complements the forest-inspired theme of the design. Novita Natura is a worsted weight yarn, making it sturdy and warm — ideal for a children's garment intended for cooler seasons. Yarn requirements range from 300 g to 450 g depending on the size being knitted, so it is advisable to purchase accordingly before beginning.

• Yarn: Novita Natura, colorway (032) Beard Lichen
• Weight: Worsted
• Amount: 300(350)400(450) g for sizes 130(140)150(160) cm

Needles Required

Two sets of straight or circular needles in different sizes are needed to achieve the correct gauge and to transition between the ribbing and the main textured body fabric.

• Smaller needles: Novita 5–5.5 mm (UK 5–6 / US 8–9) for the ribbing sections
• Larger needles: Novita 5.5–6 mm (UK 4–5 / US 9–10) for the main textured pattern
• Circular needle: Novita 5–5.5 mm, 40 cm / 16 in length, for working the neckline in the round

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this pattern, particularly given that it is sized for children and precise fit matters. The stated gauge is 17 stitches and 23 rows in the textured pattern using the larger needles = 10 cm / 4 in. Knitters are encouraged to swatch and adjust needle size as needed before casting on.

Stitch Patterns and Techniques Used

The Metsän Poika Jumper uses a combination of stitch patterns that give the fabric its distinctive handcrafted texture. The pattern is chart-based, with clear row-by-row instructions guiding the knitter through the transitions between stitch sections.

Ribbing

Ribbing is used at the lower hems of the body and sleeves, worked flat on smaller needles. It follows a *k2, p2* repeat, with wrong-side rows worked to match — knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches as they appear. This creates a neat, stretchy border approximately 5 cm deep before transitioning to the larger needles and the textured body pattern. Ribbing is a foundational knitting technique that provides elasticity and helps the garment maintain its shape at the edges.

Rib