1137 Nottingham - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Southampton and 2/10 Merino Tencel

Pattern Summary: 1137 Nottingham – Women's Scoop Neck Pullover Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman

Overview

The 1137 Nottingham is an intermediate-level women's pullover knitting pattern designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns. This elegant scoop neck sweater is built around a striking interplay of sheer and opaque sections, making it a sophisticated layering piece intended to be worn over a camisole. The design is available in nine sizes ranging from XS through 5XL, with finished bust measurements spanning 35 inches to 66½ inches, worn with 1 to 3 inches of positive ease. The sample shown is knitted in size S.

Design Concept and Visual Effect

What sets the Nottingham apart is its deliberate use of strategically placed sheer elements to create visual contrast and a refined, layered aesthetic. The lower body features alternating narrow sheer stripes and wide opaque bands, achieved by combining two yarns held together. The upper body and sleeves are worked in a single strand of the mohair-silk yarn alone, creating a delicate, airy sheer effect. This combination of textures makes the garment soft and lightweight while remaining cozy enough for a cool evening.

Yarns and Materials

The Nottingham uses two Valley Yarns yarns that work in harmony to produce its distinctive look:

• Color A – Valley Yarns Southampton (72% Kid Mohair / 28% Mulberry Silk): A lace-weight mohair-silk blend sold in 25g/230-yard balls. The colorway used is 026-Regal. You will need 4 to 8 balls depending on your size. This yarn is responsible for the sheer, halo-rich sections of the garment and is used alone on the hem, upper body, and sleeves.
• Color B – Valley Yarns Colrain Lace (50% Merino Wool / 50% Tencel): A lace-weight yarn sold on a cone at 8.8 oz/1,540 yards. The colorway used is Navy. One cone is sufficient for all sizes. This yarn adds opacity, drape, and a subtle sheen when held together with Southampton in the lower body sections.

The fiber combination of kid mohair, mulberry silk, merino wool, and Tencel results in a fabric that is described as soft as a cloud, with beautiful drape and a gentle luminosity.

Needles and Notions

The pattern calls for US 6 (4mm) circular needles in both a 16-inch and a 32-inch length, as well as double-pointed needles (dpns) in the same size, or whatever size is needed to achieve gauge. Additional materials include stitch markers, a stitch holder or waste yarn, and a tapestry needle for finishing and seaming.

Gauge

The working gauge is 20 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, measured with one strand each of Color A (Southampton) and Color B (Colrain Lace) held together, after blocking. Achieving accurate gauge is especially important in this design because the interplay between sheer and opaque sections depends on consistent fabric density.

Construction Method and Techniques

The Nottingham is a seamed, bottom-up pullover worked primarily flat in rows, with individual pieces knitted separately and then joined. Key construction details include:

• Bottom-up construction: The back and front pieces begin at the lower hem and are worked upward to the armholes.
• Worked flat (back and forth in rows): The body pieces are knitted flat and then seamed together, giving the finished garment clean, structured edges.
• Striped lower body: From the cast-on hem upward through the body to the armholes, both Color A and Color B are held together, with narrow sheer stripes of Southampton-only alternating with wider opaque bands of both yarns held together. This stripe technique creates the garment's signature textural rhythm.
• Sheer upper body and sleeves: Above the striped section,