1131 Leicester - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Men and Women in Valley Yarns Amherst

Pattern #1131 Leicester – Textured Raglan Pullover for Men and Women by Julie Turjoman

Pattern #1131 Leicester, designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns, is a seamless, bottom-up raglan pullover worked in the round. Combining rugged texture with clean, modern styling, this sweater is a versatile addition to any fall or winter wardrobe. The design is suitable for an adventurous beginner — someone who has mastered basic knitting skills and is ready to tackle shaping, working in the round, and a multi-part construction process.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a mid-hip-length pullover sweater with long set-in sleeves and a ribbed neckband. One of its most distinctive design details is the moto-jacket-inspired ribbing along the raglan shoulders, which gives a contemporary edge to an otherwise classic silhouette. The pullover is designed to fit with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease, making it comfortable for layering over shirts or lighter garments. It is available in nine sizes ranging from XS to 5XL, with finished chest measurements spanning approximately 34¾ inches to 65¾ inches.

Construction and Techniques

This pattern uses a bottom-up, seamless construction worked entirely in the round, which eliminates the need for seaming the body. Key construction techniques include:

• Long-Tail Cast-On for the body, beginning with a circular needle
• Working in the round on circular needles for the body, from the hem up to the underarms
• Separately worked sleeves, each knitted in the round from the cuff upward with increase shaping along the way
• Joining sleeves to the body at the yoke to create a unified raglan construction
• Raglan shaping with moto-jacket rib detailing that begins at the start of sleeve shaping and continues through the full raglan section
• Picking up and working a neckband from the finished neckline edge
• Use of stitch markers, including locking stitch markers, to track shaping and round beginnings
• Use of stitch holders to hold underarm stitches while the yoke is worked

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The pattern incorporates a combination of classic and textured stitch patterns that contribute to the garment's visual interest and structure:

• Stockinette stitch — the primary stitch pattern used throughout the body and sleeves, providing a smooth, classic fabric
• Ribbing — used at the lower hems, cuffs, and neckband for elasticity and a neat finish
• Moto-jacket rib — a distinctive ribbed texture applied along the raglan shoulder seams, giving the sweater its signature detail
• Textured stitch patterns that mirror across both the body and the sleeves for a cohesive look

Gauge is set at 18 stitches and 28 rounds per 4 inches in stockinette stitch, measured after blocking with the larger needle size.

Materials – Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The pattern is written specifically for Valley Yarns Amherst, a 100% Merino Wool yarn in a worsted weight, sold in 50g skeins with approximately 109 yards per skein. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in the colorway Balsam. Depending on size, the pattern requires between 11 and 20 balls of Amherst. The 100% Merino fiber content provides excellent stitch definition, warmth, and softness, making it well suited to the textured details of this design. Valley Yarns Amherst is also noted for its extensive color palette, offering plenty of options beyond the sample colorway.

Two needle sizes are required:

• US size 8 (5.00 mm) circular needles in 32