Stars & Stripes Jumpers in BC Garn Baby Alpaca - 2443BC - Downloadable PDF

Stars & Stripes Jumpers in BC Garn Baby Alpaca – Pattern Summary (No. 2443BC)

The Stars & Stripes pattern, designed by Jytte Slente and published by BC Garn as pattern number 2443BC, is a free downloadable PDF for knitting a colourwork jumper in a classic, graphic style. The design features a striking combination of stripes and a star motif, worked in a palette of four carefully chosen neutral shades of Baby Alpaca yarn from BC Garn. This is an intermediate-level knitting project suitable for those with experience in colourwork and circular knitting techniques.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a pullover jumper worked in the round, available in three adult sizes. The finished measurements are as follows:

• Small (S): 96 cm width, 61 cm length
• Medium (M): 103 cm width, 64 cm length
• Large (L): 110 cm width, 67 cm length

The jumper combines a two-colour ribbed border with a stranded colourwork star chart and stripe sections, creating a timeless, wearable garment with a Scandinavian-influenced aesthetic.

Techniques Used

• Circular knitting in the round – the jumper is constructed using both 80 cm and 40 cm circular needles, allowing seamless construction throughout the body and sleeves
• Stranded colourwork – multiple yarn colours are carried across rows simultaneously to create the star motif pattern as charted in Diagram 1 ("Stjerner" / "Stars")
• Two-colour ribbing – the ribbed sections are worked using Grey for knit stitches and Sand for purl stitches, creating a visually textured border that incorporates both colours from the outset
• Increases – a lifted increase technique is used: from the front, the loop between stitches is lifted with the left needle and knitted into the back of the loop, creating a neat, nearly invisible increase
• Decreases – including K3tog (knit 3 stitches together) and K3tog tbl (knit 3 stitches together through the back loop), which are used for shaping and create mirrored decrease lines

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (St st) – knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side; forms the main fabric of the jumper
• Two-colour rib – a K2/P2 rib worked with alternating yarn colours (Grey for knit stitches, Sand for purl stitches)
• Stranded colourwork stitches – following the star chart, which is a 12-stitch repeat worked over 21 rounds
• K3tog and K3tog tbl – directional decrease stitches used for shaping

The Star Chart – Diagram 1

The signature motif of this jumper is charted in Diagram 1, referred to in both Danish ("Stjerner") and English ("Stars"). It is a 12-stitch repeat worked over 21 rounds, creating a repeating geometric star pattern across the body of the jumper. This type of stranded colourwork is a hallmark of traditional Nordic knitwear and requires the knitter to manage two or more yarn colours simultaneously, carrying the unused colour loosely across the back of the work to maintain an even tension.

Materials

The jumper is knitted in Baby Alpaca yarn by BC Garn, a 3-ply / fingering-weight yarn known for its exceptional softness, warmth, and natural lustre. Four colourways are used in this design:

• au107 – Brown: 50 g (S), 100 g (M), 100 g (L)