#1356 McIntosh - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Hampden

Pattern #1356 McIntosh – Women's Cable Split-Neck Pullover Knitting Pattern in Valley Yarns Hampden

The McIntosh pullover, pattern number #1356, is a women's cable knit jumper designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns. This sophisticated layering piece features a striking deep split neckline that brings a modern edge to classic cable knitting, making it equally at home as a transitional-season staple or a cool-weather wardrobe essential. The design is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated Intermediate in difficulty, making it an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with cables and are ready to work with a combination of construction methods.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's split-neck cable pullover jumper, sized from XS through 5XL (nine sizes in total). The garment is shown in size S and is designed to be worn with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease, giving it a relaxed, layerable fit. Finished bust measurements range from 33 inches at XS up to 61¾ inches at 5XL, ensuring an inclusive and versatile size range. The deep split neck is a defining design detail, lending the sweater a contemporary sensibility that sets it apart from traditional cable pullovers.

Design Details and Aesthetic

The McIntosh is described as conveying rugged refinement — a balance between the tactile, textured quality of cable knitting and the luxurious drape of the yarn used. The body of the sweater is worked in a combination of luxurious cables and small-scale filler stitches, creating visual interest and depth across the fabric. The split neck opening adds a modern, fashion-forward touch to what might otherwise be a traditional cable design. This makes the McIntosh a versatile piece that works beautifully as a layering garment over shirts or under coats during the cooler months.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is worked from the lower hem upward, which is a traditional and widely understood approach that allows knitters to try on the piece as they go and make length adjustments easily.
• Worked flat (back and forth): Certain sections of the pattern are knitted flat on straight or circular needles, producing the seamed construction that gives the finished garment structure and a clean, tailored finish.
• Worked in the round: Other sections, such as the body or sleeves, are worked in the round using circular needles or double-pointed needles, reducing the number of seams and creating smooth, seamless tubes of fabric where appropriate.
• Seamed construction: The garment pieces are seamed together after knitting, a technique that adds durability and helps the finished jumper hold its shape over time. Seamed garments are often preferred for structured cable designs.
• Cable knitting: Cables are a central feature of this design. Cable knitting involves crossing stitches over one another using a cable needle to create twisted, rope-like or braided textures. The McIntosh uses luxe cables as the primary decorative element, combined with smaller filler stitches to frame and complement the cable panels.

Stitches Used

• Cable stitches: The primary decorative stitch pattern, worked across the body of the jumper to create the signature textured panels.
• Small-scale filler stitches: These complementary stitch patterns fill the spaces between cable panels, adding texture and visual rhythm to the fabric without competing with the cables themselves. Common filler stitches in cable knitting include seed stitch, moss stitch, or reverse stockinette, though the specific filler used in this pattern is detailed within the PDF.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Valley Yarns Hampden, a luxurious DK-weight yarn with a fiber composition of 50% Baby Alpaca, 35% Fine Merino Wool, and 15% Mulberry Silk. Each hank weighs 50 grams and contains approximately 95 yards. The colorway shown in the sample garment is Lizard (10). Yardage requirements range from 12 hanks for size XS up to