Alpine Sweater in Valley Yarns Hampden - 1055 - Downloadable PDF

Alpine Sweater in Valley Yarns Hampden – Pattern #1055 by Julie Turjoman

The Alpine Sweater (Pattern #1055) is a beautifully updated classic pullover designed by Julie Turjoman and knitted in the luxurious Valley Yarns Hampden yarn. This cozy, boxy-fit sweater features wide subtle stripes, double hems, and a distinctive funnel neck, making it an ideal project for knitters who want to build foundational sweater-making skills while producing a stylish, wearable garment. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated Adventurous Beginner, making it an excellent choice for those tackling their first full sweater construction.

What Is Being Made

The Alpine Sweater is a boxy, relaxed-fit pullover with a funnel neckline, designed to be worn as a casual layering piece — particularly well-suited for fall and weekend wear. It is worked in four tonal colorways of Valley Yarns Hampden, creating wide, restrained stripes that shift subtly across the body. The sweater is offered in nine sizes ranging from XS through 5XL, with finished bust measurements spanning 38½ inches to 67½ inches and lengths from 25¼ to 30½ inches. The design is intended to be worn with 4 to 6 inches of positive ease, giving it a generously comfortable, modern silhouette.

Design Details and Finished Measurements

• Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL (sample shown in Size S)
• Finished Bust: 38½ (42, 46, 48, 53) (57, 60½, 64, 67½) inches
• Finished Hips: 36½ (40, 43½, 47½, 51) (54½, 58, 62, 65½) inches
• Finished Length: 25¼ (25¾, 26¼, 26½, 27¼) (29, 29½, 30, 30½) inches
• Designed with 4–6 inches of positive ease; knitters preferring a closer fit are advised to work one size smaller

Techniques Used

The Alpine Sweater introduces and reinforces a range of essential knitting construction techniques, making it a genuinely educational project for newer knitters. The pattern is described as seamed, meaning individual pieces are worked separately and then joined — a traditional approach that helps knitters practice finishing skills such as seaming with a tapestry needle. The construction is worked bottom-up, beginning at the hem and progressing upward toward the shoulders and neckline.

• Bottom-up construction: Pieces are begun at the lower edge and shaped upward, a classic approach that allows easy length adjustments
• Worked flat: The body and sleeve panels are knitted back and forth in rows, building familiarity with flat knitting and reading row-by-row instructions
• Worked in the round: Circular needle techniques are employed, particularly for the funnel neck and hem finishing
• Double hems (hem single): The lower edges feature a folded, double-layer hem construction, which creates a clean, polished finish and adds structure to the garment edge
• Stripes: Wide, subtle color stripes are worked across the body using four coordinating shades of Valley Yarns Hampden, introducing color management and yarn-carry techniques in a gentle, accessible way
• Seaming: Finished pieces are joined using a tapestry needle, teaching the fundamental skill of mattress stitch or similar seaming methods
• Simple shaping: Increases and decreases are used for sleeve and body shaping, reinforcing core techniques such as K2tog (knit two together) in a low-pressure context
• Long-Tail Cast On: The pattern specifically calls for the Long-Tail Cast On method to begin pieces, and a video tutorial reference is included in the pattern for beginner support

Stitches Used