Take It Slow Sweater - Free Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Paintbox Yarns Chenille by Paintbox Yarns

Take It Slow Sweater – Free Chunky Knitting Pattern for Women by Paintbox Yarns

The Take It Slow Sweater is a free, downloadable knitting pattern designed by Paintbox Yarns for a classic women's pullover jumper worked in soft, cosy chenille yarn. This intermediate-level pattern produces a relaxed-fit sweater featuring a beautiful three-colour stripe sequence, making it an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and are ready to explore colour work through simple striping. The finished garment is available in seven sizes, fitting chest measurements from 32–34 inches up to 56–58 inches, with finished chest measurements ranging from 43¼ inches to 67 inches, ensuring an inclusive and generous fit across a wide range of body types.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's pullover sweater (also known as a jumper) with a structured, seamed construction. The design features a striped colourwork aesthetic created through alternating three carefully chosen shades of Paintbox Yarns Chenille. The sweater has a defined body and set-in or shaped sleeves, with finished length measurements ranging from 21¾ inches to 24 inches depending on size, and sleeve lengths ranging from 14½ inches to 15¾ inches. The result is a wearable, stylish everyday jumper with a plush, velvety texture that is characteristic of chenille fabric.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat: The pieces of this sweater are knitted flat, meaning they are worked back and forth in rows on straight or circular needles rather than in the round. This approach produces separate panels — typically a front, back, and two sleeves — that are later joined together.
• Seamed construction: Once all flat pieces are complete, they are sewn together using a seaming technique. The pattern notably recommends using scraps of DK yarn in similar colours for seaming, rather than the chenille yarn itself, which can be difficult to seam neatly due to its textured, pile-based structure.
• Stripes: The three-colour stripe sequence is a central design feature. Colours are changed at regular intervals to create horizontal stripes across the body and sleeves. Working stripes flat makes colour management straightforward, as yarn can simply be picked up and dropped at the edges of the work.
• Shaping: The pattern includes garment shaping such as increases and decreases to form the silhouette of the sweater. A notable technique referenced is the Central Double Decrease (CDD), which involves slipping two stitches together knitwise, knitting one stitch, and passing the two slipped stitches back over the knitted stitch — a neat, centred decrease used in neckline or armhole shaping.

Stitches Used

• Knit and purl stitches form the foundation of this pattern, as is standard in flat knitting for sweater construction.
• Central Double Decrease (CDD): A three-stitch decrease that reduces two stitches at once while keeping the resulting decrease centred and symmetrical — commonly used for V-necks, raglan shaping, or armhole curves.
• Ribbing or edging stitches are typically used on cuffs, hems, and neckbands in garments of this type, worked on the smaller needle size.

Materials Required

Yarn

The pattern is specifically designed for Paintbox Yarns Chenille, a chunky-weight yarn sold in 3¼oz / 100g balls. Chenille yarn has a distinctive soft, velvety pile that gives knitted fabric a luxurious, plush texture and excellent drape. Three colourways are used:

• Rose (Colour A): 3 balls for sizes 32–46 inch chest; 4 balls for sizes 48–58 inch chest
• Peony (Colour B): 2 balls for sizes 32–46 inch chest; 3 balls for sizes 48–58 inch chest
• Marshmallow (Colour C): 2 balls for sizes 32–46 inch chest; 3 balls for sizes 48–58 inch chest