"Ali Jumper" - Sweater Knitting Pattern For Women in MillaMia Naturally Soft Aran

Ali Jumper – Stranded Colourwork Yoke Knitting Pattern for Women by MillaMia

The Ali Jumper is a women's pullover knitting pattern from MillaMia, designed to be knitted in MillaMia Naturally Soft Aran weight yarn. It features a striking Fair Isle stranded colourwork yoke that gives the garment a classic, heritage-inspired look with a contemporary colour palette. The pattern is rated Improving (intermediate level), making it an excellent next step for knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to explore colourwork and construction techniques that combine flat and in-the-round knitting.

What Is Being Made

The Ali Jumper is a fitted women's pullover with a stranded colourwork yoke, set-in or yoke-style construction, and a classic silhouette. It is available in three sizes to fit bust measurements of 82, 87, and 92 cm (32, 34, and 36 inches), with actual garment bust measurements of 89, 97, and 106 cm (35, 38, and 41½ inches), providing a comfortable amount of ease. The length to the back of neck measures 56, 59, and 62 cm (22, 23¼, and 24½ inches), and the sleeve length is a consistent 44 cm (17¼ inches) across all sizes.

Construction Techniques

The Ali Jumper uses a combination of construction methods that give intermediate knitters a well-rounded project:

• Bottom-up construction: The body and sleeves are worked from the cast-on edge upward, which is the traditional approach for seamless and seamed garments alike.
• Worked flat (back and forth on straight needles): The body pieces are knitted flat on straight needles, meaning the front and back are worked as separate panels.
• Seamed finishing: Because the main body is worked flat, the garment is assembled using seams, giving it a structured, tailored finish that many knitters find helps the jumper hold its shape beautifully.
• Worked in the round: The yoke section is worked in the round on circular needles, which is the ideal method for stranded colourwork as it allows the knitter to always view the right side of the fabric.
• Stranded colourwork (Fair Isle): The decorative yoke is created using the stranded colourwork technique, where two or more colours are used across a row or round and the yarn not currently in use is carried (stranded) loosely across the wrong side of the work. The pattern specifically instructs knitters to read the chart from right to left on every round and to strand yarn not in use loosely across the wrong side to maintain correct tension and fabric drape.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch): The main body fabric is worked in stocking stitch, giving a smooth, classic knitted surface. Tension is measured as 18 stitches and 24 rows to 10 cm / 4 inches over stocking stitch using 5mm (US 8) needles.
• Ribbing: Typically used at the cuffs, hem, and neckband for stretch and neat finishing (standard for MillaMia aran-weight jumper patterns of this construction).
• Stranded colourwork pattern: The yoke is worked from a colourwork chart, combining multiple colours in a repeating Fair Isle motif across the rounds.

Materials – Yarn, Needles, and Colours

The Ali Jumper is designed specifically for MillaMia Naturally Soft Aran yarn, a smooth, premium yarn that is well suited to colourwork due to its stitch definition and consistent thickness. The recommended yarn quantities and colours are:

• 9 (10:11) balls of MillaMia Naturally Soft Aran in Stone (202) – the main colour, labelled Colour A
• 4 (5:5) balls of Marine Blue (210) – the contrast colour for the