957 Mansard - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Colrain

Pattern Summary: Valley Yarns Mansard Pullover – Design #957 by Julie Turjoman

The Mansard is a beautifully crafted women's pullover sweater pattern numbered #957, designed by Julie Turjoman and published under the Valley Yarns brand. This elegant, dressy tunic-length pullover is designed to take the wearer seamlessly from the workplace to an evening out, combining clean modern lines with feminine detailing. It is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated Intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for knitters who have moved beyond the basics and are ready to work with shaping, texture, and multiple yarn weights simultaneously.

What Is Being Made

The Mansard is a scoop neck pullover with a tunic-length silhouette, designed to be worn across three seasons. Its defining features include feminine waist shaping for a flattering fit, and bell sleeves that introduce a romantic, vintage-inspired element to an otherwise modern garment. The bell sleeves are worked using a contrasting lace weight yarn, adding textural contrast and a delicate visual effect. The finished garment is intended to fit with 1 to 2 inches of positive ease, giving it a relaxed yet polished drape.

The pattern is offered in a generous size range: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, and 4XL, with finished bust measurements spanning from 32¾ inches to 60¾ inches. The sample garment shown in the pattern is knitted in Size 36¾ inches.

Construction Techniques

The Mansard is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed, worked flat approach. This traditional method of sweater construction involves knitting the individual pieces — typically the front, back, and sleeves — as separate flat panels, then joining them together with seams. This technique is well-suited to intermediate knitters who are comfortable with reading flat knitting instructions and finishing seams neatly.

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is begun at the lower hem and worked upward toward the shoulders, allowing shaping to be introduced gradually through the body and sleeves.
• Seamed finishing: Pieces are sewn together after knitting, which adds structure to the finished garment and helps it hold its shape over time — particularly important for a dressy tunic intended for regular wear.
• Worked flat: The pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, which is typical for garments that will later be seamed.
• Waist shaping: Increases and decreases are used throughout the body to create a tailored, feminine silhouette that nips in at the waist.
• Bell sleeve construction: The sleeves incorporate the contrasting yarn to build texture and volume at the cuff, creating the characteristic bell shape.

Stitches and Techniques Used

While the PDF excerpt does not enumerate every stitch pattern in full detail, the design references a combination of texture and delicate lace elements worked into the bell sleeves. Intermediate-level knitters working on this pattern can expect to encounter:

• Standard knit and purl stitches forming the main body fabric
• Shaping techniques including increases and decreases for waist and sleeve shaping
• Lace or textural stitch patterns incorporated into the bell sleeves using the contrasting mohair/silk yarn
• Seaming techniques for joining finished pieces
• Scoop neck finishing, worked using circular needles

Materials: Yarn

The Mansard uses two yarns — a main color (MC) and a contrasting color (CC) — each contributing distinct qualities to the finished garment.

• Main Color (MC): Valley Yarns Colrain – A worsted weight yarn composed of 50% Merino Wool and 50% Tencel, sold in 50g/109-yard balls. The Merino provides softness and warmth, while the Tencel (a plant-based fiber derived from wood pulp) contributes a beautiful drape and a subtle, lustrous