B1 Basic Pullover - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women by Valley Yarns

B1 Basic Pullover – Knitting Pattern for Women by Kirsten Hipsky

The B1 Basic Pullover is a classic women's pullover sweater knitting pattern designed by Kirsten Hipsky and published by Valley Yarns. This versatile pattern produces a timeless, everyday pullover worked in Stockinette stitch with ribbed cuffs, a ribbed hem, and a choice of three neckline styles: crew neck, turtle neck, or mock turtle neck. It is an excellent project for knitters who are ready to move beyond simple scarves and hats and take on their first or second garment construction, making it ideal for the advanced beginner skill level.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a seamed, set-in-sleeve pullover sweater for women, available in five finished sizes ranging from 36 to 52 inches in chest circumference (36", 40", 44", 48", and 52"). The sweater features a structured body with a front, a back, and two separately knitted sleeves that are sewn together during finishing. The neckline can be customized as a crew neck, mock turtleneck, or full turtleneck, giving knitters meaningful design flexibility within a single pattern purchase.

Construction Techniques

• Bottom-up construction: Both the front and back pieces are cast on at the lower edge and worked upward, a traditional and beginner-friendly approach that makes length adjustments straightforward.
• Worked flat: All pieces — the front, back, and both sleeves — are knitted flat, back and forth in rows, rather than in the round. This means knitters use standard straight or circular needles and work both right-side and wrong-side rows.
• Seamed finishing: The completed pieces are joined using sewn seams. Shoulder seams are sewn first, then the sleeves are set in by aligning the center top of each sleeve with the shoulder seam and sewing the sleeve to the body. Side seams and sleeve seams are then sewn to complete the garment.
• Neck shaping with a second ball of yarn: The front neck opening is created by dividing the front stitches into thirds, binding off the center third, and working each shoulder section simultaneously using a separate ball of yarn — a classic technique for achieving even, symmetrical neck shaping.
• Sleeve shaping: Sleeves are worked with gradual increases at each end of every fourth row to create a tapered shape from cuff to upper arm, then worked straight to the desired length before being bound off.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch pattern used throughout the body and sleeves. On flat knitting, this is achieved by knitting all right-side rows and purling all wrong-side rows, producing a smooth, classic fabric on the right side.
• 1x1 Ribbing (K1, P1): Used for the cuffs and lower edges. The ribbing is worked by alternating one knit stitch and one purl stitch across every row, creating a stretchy, form-fitting border. The ribbing section is worked on smaller needles than the body to keep it neat and snug.
• Neck ribbing: The neckline is finished with ribbing worked on 16-inch circular needles in the smaller needle size, allowing the ribbing to be worked smoothly around the curved neck opening.

Materials and Yarn

One of the most distinctive and practical features of the B1 Basic Pullover pattern is that it is written to be knitted in three different yarn weights, making it highly adaptable to a knitter's yarn stash or preferred fabric weight. The pattern provides separate yardage requirements and gauge guidance for each weight:

• DK weight yarn: Approximately 1200 to 2000 yards depending on size (1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, or 2000 yards for sizes 36" through 52").
• Worsted weight yarn: Approximately 1000 to 1800 yards depending on size (1000, 1200, 1400, 1600, or 1800 yards).
• Bulky (chunky) weight yarn: Approximately 800 to 1200 yards depending