1301 Cassiopea - Sweater Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Ashfield

1301 Cassiopea: Striped Women's Jumper Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman

About This Pattern

The 1301 Cassiopea is a stylish striped tee-style jumper designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns. Rated intermediate in skill level, this pattern is described as approachable enough to appeal to beginners while still offering enough interest for experienced knitters. The finished garment features a breezy scoop neck, knitted-on short sleeves, and a relaxed silhouette intended to fall at the high hip, making it an ideal choice for transitional weather dressing.

Sizes and Fit

The pattern is available in nine sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, and 5XL. The sample shown was knitted in size Small. Finished bust measurements range from 36 inches up to 64¾ inches, and the design is intended to be worn with 4 to 6 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit. The pattern notes that the length can be extended beyond the high-hip default, though additional yarn will be required for any lengthening.

What Is Being Made

Cassiopea is a women's pullover jumper with short sleeves and a scoop neckline. The design is defined by a narrow striped pattern worked across the body, giving it a clean, modern aesthetic. The knitted-on ribbed cuffs at the sleeve edges add a polished, structured finish to the otherwise relaxed silhouette. The overall effect is a lightweight, breathable warm-weather or transitional-season top that works equally well dressed up or down.

Construction and Techniques

The construction of Cassiopea uses a thoughtful combination of techniques that make it a satisfying and educational knit:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is built from the hem upward, a classic approach that allows for easy length adjustments before the armhole shaping begins.
• Two separate hems joined in the round: The front and back hems are worked separately using flat knitting, then joined together on a long circular needle to form the body, which is then worked seamlessly in the round.
• Seamless body: Once joined, the body is worked in the round, eliminating side seams for a smooth, comfortable finish against the skin.
• Worked flat at the armholes: After dividing at the armholes, the front and back are worked back and forth (flat) up to the shoulders, which is standard practice for shaping fitted armhole openings.
• Knitted-on short sleeves: Rather than picking up stitches after the fact, six stitches are cast on at each end of the armhole opening at the beginning of the armhole section, forming the short sleeve caps as part of the main body construction.
• Picked-up ribbed cuffs: Stitches are picked up around the short sleeves to work the ribbed cuffs directly onto the sleeve edges, creating a neat, integrated finish.
• Striped colorwork: A narrow striped pattern is worked throughout the body using two colors, requiring simple color management without any complex colorwork techniques such as stranding or intarsia.
• Scoop neckline finishing: The neckline is finished with a picked-up neckband worked on a smaller needle for a tidy, professional edge.

Stitches Used

The primary fabric of Cassiopea is worked in stockinette stitch, which showcases the smooth hand and clean stitch definition of the specified yarn beautifully. The cuffs and neckline are finished in ribbing, which provides elasticity and a snug, flattering edge. A stretchy cast-on method such as the Old Norwegian cast-on is recommended for the hem to ensure the lower edge has adequate give.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically to showcase Valley Yarns Ashfield, a worsted weight yarn with a fiber composition of 67% Fine Merino Wool and 33% Bamboo Viscose, available in 50g skeins of approximately 117 yards each. This wool-bamboo blend is praised for its smooth hand, excellent stitch definition, and breathable qualities — all properties that