Drew Jumper - Free Knitting Pattern for Kids in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

Drew Jumper – Free Kids' Knitting Pattern in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

The Drew Jumper is a charming, unisex children's sweater offered as a free downloadable PDF knitting pattern from MillaMia. Designed at an intermediate skill level, it combines playful colour combinations with satisfying texture to create a versatile everyday jumper suitable for kids aged 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8 years. Finished chest measurements range from 61 cm (24 in) up to 76 cm (30 in), with lengths to shoulder spanning 30 cm to 39 cm, making it a practical project that can grow with your child's wardrobe.

What Is Being Made

The Drew Jumper is a classic pullover sweater (jumper) for children, featuring a structured, textured body and colourful stripe detailing. The pattern's own notes describe it as "clearly a unisex jumper" whose appeal comes from the interplay of various textures and colours. Knitters are actively encouraged to experiment with their own colour combinations, making this a wonderfully personalised make.

Construction Techniques

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is worked from the lower edge upward, a traditional approach that gives knitters excellent control over length adjustments before reaching the armhole shaping.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles, producing separate front, back, and sleeve panels rather than working in the round.
• Seamed finishing: The individual pieces are joined together using seaming techniques, resulting in a neat, structured finish with clean edges — ideal for a children's garment that needs to hold its shape through regular wear and washing.
• Stripes: Colour striping is incorporated into the design, adding visual interest and giving knitters the opportunity to play with their chosen palette across the three colours used in the pattern.

Stitches Used

• Double moss stitch (seed stitch variation): This is the primary stitch pattern used across the body of the jumper. Double moss stitch creates a richly textured, reversible fabric by alternating knit and purl stitches in a specific offset sequence. It produces a dense, slightly elastic fabric that is wonderfully tactile and holds its shape well — particularly well-suited to children's knitwear.
• Rib stitch: Ribbing is typically used at the cuffs, hem, and neckband in garments of this construction style, providing the necessary stretch and recovery for comfortable fit at the edges.

Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 28 stitches and 44 rows to 10 cm / 4 in measured over double moss stitch using 3.25 mm (US 3) needles. Achieving this tension swatch before casting on is especially important in a sized children's garment, as even small deviations can significantly affect the finished chest and length measurements.

Materials Required

• Yarn: MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino, a sport weight yarn sold in 50 g / 1¾ oz balls. The featured colourway uses:
  • 4 (4:5:5) balls in Rain 165 (Colour A – the main colour)
  • 1 (1:1:2) balls in Daisy 142 (Colour B)
  • 1 (1:1:2) balls in Lilac Blossom 123 (Colour C)
• Needles: A pair of 3 mm (US 2) knitting needles and a pair of 3.25 mm (US 3) knitting needles — both straight, to support flat knitting.

Alternative Colourways

The pattern also presents two additional colourway options for inspiration, demonstrating just how versatile the Drew Jumper can be:

• Colourway 2: Forget Me Not 120 (A), Rain 165 (B), Midnight 101 (C)