Neo Striped Fairisle Jumper - Knitting Pattern For Women in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino by MillaMia

Neo Striped Fairisle Jumper – Knitting Pattern for Women in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

The Neo Striped Fairisle Jumper is a women's pullover knitting pattern designed by MillaMia, worked in their signature MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino yarn. This pattern combines classic Fair Isle colourwork with bold solid-colour stripes to create a striking yet approachable colourwork jumper. Rated as Improving (intermediate) skill level, it is an ideal next-step project for knitters who are ready to explore stranded colourwork without being overwhelmed by complex repeats.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's fitted pullover jumper with long sleeves, worked in a combination of stranded Fair Isle sections and solid-colour stripe panels. The finished garment features a structured, seamed construction and is available in four sizes to fit bust measurements of 82–87 cm, 92–97 cm, 102–107 cm, and 112–117 cm (32–34 in to 44–46 in), with actual bust measurements of 96, 107, 118, and 129 cm respectively. The length to shoulder ranges from 64 to 70 cm, and sleeve length from 45 to 48 cm, making this a full-length, wearable everyday jumper.

Design Details and Colourwork

The design is built around a repeating Fair Isle motif interspersed with solid-colour stripe sections. As noted in the pattern's own hints and tips, the solid stripes deliberately break up the colourwork into neat, manageable chunks, making the Fair Isle sections far less daunting than they might first appear. This thoughtful construction makes the Neo Striped Fairisle Jumper a particularly well-suited project for an improving knitter who wants to develop their stranded colourwork skills in a structured, confidence-building way.

The main colourway uses Midnight (101) as the primary background colour (M), with Lilac Blossom (123) and Mist (164) as the principal contrast colours, plus Butterscotch and additional shades contributing to the stripe and Fair Isle palette. A suggested alternative colourway is also provided, featuring Claret (104), Storm (102), Daisy Yellow (143), Fuchsia (122), Petal (169), and Doe (142), giving knitters a warm, vibrant option alongside the cooler original palette.

Techniques Used

• Stranded colourwork (Fair Isle): The signature technique of this pattern, stranded knitting involves carrying two or more yarn colours across a row, picking up each colour as required by the pattern. The Fair Isle sections in this jumper use small, regular repeats that keep float lengths manageable and the fabric even.
• Bottom-up construction: The jumper is worked from the cast-on edge upward toward the shoulders, which is the traditional approach for seamed garments and allows easy adjustment of length before the armhole shaping begins.
• Worked flat (back and forth): The body and sleeves are knitted flat on straight or circular needles, producing separate panels that are then joined together.
• Seamed finishing: Once all pieces are complete, the garment is assembled using seaming techniques such as mattress stitch or backstitch to join the front, back, and sleeves into a finished pullover. Seamed construction gives the jumper a clean, structured shape and is well suited to colourwork fabrics.
• Stripe knitting: Solid-colour stripe sections are worked between the Fair Isle panels, requiring simple colour changes at row beginnings and providing visual rhythm and breathing space within the design.

Stitches Used

• Knit and purl stitches form the foundation of the stocking stitch (stockinette) fabric used throughout the body and sleeves.
• Rib stitch is typically used for welts, cuffs, and neckbands in MillaMia garment patterns of this type, providing stretch and a neat, professional edge finish.
• Stranded colourwork stitches are worked in stocking stitch, with yarns carried across the wrong side of the fabric to create the Fair Isle pattern on the right side.

Materials