1165 Larch - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Peru

Pattern Summary: 1165 Larch – Women's Twist Stitch Pullover Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman

Overview

The 1165 Larch is a women's crewneck pullover knitting pattern designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns. This intermediate-level pattern produces a relaxed, boxy-fit sweater ideal for casual winter wear and layering. Its standout feature is a dramatic diamond twist stitch texture worked across the front body, paired with classic seed stitch edgings for a polished, tactile finish. Worked in the luxurious Valley Yarns Peru yarn, this pullover knits up quickly and is designed to become a cold-weather wardrobe staple.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a women's crewneck pullover sweater with a generous, oversized silhouette. The finished garment features a deeply textured diamond panel on the front bodice, seed stitch hems and cuffs, and set-in sleeves worked downward from the armholes. The design is available in nine sizes ranging from XS through 5XL, with finished bust measurements spanning 35 inches to 67¼ inches. The pattern is shown in Size S and is designed to be worn with 4 to 6 inches of positive ease, making it a true relaxed-fit layering piece.

Construction Method

The Larch pullover is constructed using a combination of techniques that make it an excellent project for knitters ready to advance beyond basic sweater construction. The body pieces are worked flat, back and forth in rows from the bottom up, meaning the front and back are knitted as separate flat pieces. This seamed approach gives the finished sweater clean, structured edges and a traditional garment feel.

• Bottom-up construction: Both the front and back begin at the lower hem and are worked upward to the shoulders.
• Short-row shoulder shaping: The shoulders are shaped using short rows, which creates a more refined, fitted shoulder line than a standard bind-off alone.
• 3-Needle Bind-Off: The shoulder seams are joined using the 3-needle bind-off technique, which creates a neat, strong seam without the need for sewing.
• Sleeves worked in the round: Unlike the body, the sleeves are picked up and worked in the round, downward from the armholes toward the cuffs, allowing for a smooth, seamless sleeve tube.
• Seamed finishing: The side seams are sewn together after the flat pieces are complete.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Larch pattern draws on several stitch patterns that work together to create its distinctive textured aesthetic. Knitters will practice and develop skills in the following areas:

• Twist stitch diamond pattern: The centerpiece of the design, this deeply textured stitch pattern creates a bold diamond motif across the front of the sweater. Twist stitches are worked by crossing stitches over one another without a cable needle, creating a rope-like, raised texture. This pattern covers the front body up to the upper bodice, where it transitions to seed stitch.
• Seed stitch: Used for the hems, cuffs, neckband, upper body, and as a centered panel on the sleeves. Seed stitch alternates knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard arrangement, producing a firm, non-curling fabric with a subtle pebbly texture. It provides an elegant contrast to both the twist stitch diamonds and the stockinette sections.
• Stockinette stitch: Used to frame the seed stitch panels on the sleeves, providing a smooth background that highlights the textural contrast.
• Short-row shaping: Applied at the shoulders to create a sloped, well-fitting shoulder line. Short rows involve turning the work mid-row and working back, building extra fabric in targeted areas.
• Working flat (back and forth in rows): The body pieces are worked as flat panels, requiring knitters to manage right-side and wrong-side rows.
• Working in the round: The sleeves are worked circularly, requiring the use of circular needles or double-pointed needles.
• Cables (twist stitches): While the pattern uses twist stitches rather than traditional cabled