Joy Sweater - Free Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Paintbox Yarns 100% Wool Chunky Superwash by Paintbox Yarns

Joy Sweater – Free Chunky Knitting Pattern for Women by Paintbox Yarns

The Joy Sweater is a women's pullover jumper knitting pattern designed by Paintbox Yarns, available as a free downloadable PDF. Rated intermediate in difficulty, this cosy chunky-weight sweater is a rewarding project that combines classic construction with a charming decorative motif, making it a standout piece for the colder months. The pattern is sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements, from 32–34 inches up to 56–58 inches, ensuring an inclusive fit for many body types.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's pullover sweater (jumper) worked in a predominantly Blush Pink colourway with contrasting colour details in Coffee Bean and Raspberry Pink. The sweater features a classic silhouette with finished chest measurements ranging from approximately 49½ inches to 73½ inches, offering generous ease for a relaxed, comfortable fit. The "Joy" name and the decorative intarsia motif give the sweater a festive, personalised character that makes it suitable as a handmade gift or a wardrobe staple.

Construction Techniques

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is worked from the lower hem upward, a traditional approach that allows knitters to try on the piece as they go and make length adjustments with ease.
• Worked flat: The fabric pieces are knitted flat on a pair of straight needles rather than in the round, producing separate panels that are later assembled.
• Seamed finishing: Once all pieces are complete, they are joined together using seaming techniques, resulting in a structured, tailored finish with clean edges and stable seams.
• Intarsia colourwork: The decorative motif is created using the intarsia technique, where separate yarn bobbins or lengths are used for each colour section within a row. Unlike stranded colourwork, intarsia does not carry yarn across the back of the work, keeping the fabric single-thickness and drape-friendly even in chunky weight yarn.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (stocking stitch): The main body fabric is worked in stockinette stitch — knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side — which creates a smooth, classic knitted surface ideal for showcasing the intarsia motif.
• Gauge/tension reference: The pattern is set to 16 stitches and 20 rows to a 4-inch (10cm) square in stockinette stitch, which is the standard benchmark for achieving the correct finished dimensions.

Materials Required

Yarn

The pattern calls for Paintbox Yarns 100% Wool Chunky Superwash, a machine-washable pure wool yarn sold in 3¼oz (100g) balls. Three colours are used:

• Blush Pink (Colour A): The main colour, requiring 8 to 12 balls depending on size selected.
• Coffee Bean (Colour B): A contrast colour for the intarsia motif, requiring 1 ball.
• Raspberry Pink (Colour C): A second contrast colour for the intarsia motif, requiring 1 ball.

The Superwash treatment on this 100% wool yarn makes it practical for everyday wear, as finished garments can be machine washed without the risk of felting — a significant advantage for a chunky-weight sweater that may see frequent use.

Needles and Notions

• US 10 (6mm) straight knitting needles — a single pair is sufficient for working the flat pieces.
• 2 stitch holders — used to hold live stitches (typically at the neckline or armhole) while other sections are worked.

Difficulty and Who This Pattern Suits

Rated intermediate, the Joy Sweater is best suited