1170 - Taxus - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women & Men in Valley Yarns Northfield by Valley Yarns

1170 Taxus Jumper Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman

What is Being Made

The Taxus is an unisex pullover sweater designed for both women and men, featuring a sophisticated neutral color palette. This jumper combines simple textured knitting on the lower body with carefully positioned stranded colorwork on the upper sleeves and lower chest. The design is achievable for less experienced knitters while maintaining an elegant, wearable aesthetic. The pattern is available in nine sizes ranging from XS to 5XL, with finished chest measurements from 35 inches to 69¾ inches, offering a comfortable fit with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease.

Knitting Techniques

The Taxus employs three primary construction and colorwork techniques that work together to create visual interest while remaining accessible to intermediate-level knitters:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The sweater is knitted from the bottom upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as they progress and easily adjust the finished length if needed.
• Stranded Colorwork: A basic stranded colorwork motif is strategically placed on the upper sleeves and lower chest, introducing color work techniques without overwhelming the knitter with complex pattern placement across the entire garment.
• Worked in the Round: The body and sleeves are knitted in the round, which eliminates seaming and creates a seamless, professional finish typical of contemporary sweater design.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the pattern overview, the design features simple texture on the lower body paired with stranded colorwork elements. The combination of textured stitching and two-color stranded work creates visual depth and sophistication without requiring advanced stitch knowledge, making this pattern ideal for knitters developing their skills in colorwork and texture.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Taxus is designed to showcase Valley Yarns Northfield, a premium yarn blend composed of 70% Merino Wool, 20% Baby Alpaca, and 10% Silk. This luxurious fiber combination creates a sophisticated drape and subtle sheen appropriate for a refined, neutral-palette garment.

Yarn Requirements by Size:

• Main Color (MC) - Charcoal: 8 to 15 balls depending on size (XS requires 8 balls; 5XL requires 15 balls). Valley Yarns Northfield is yarded at 124 yards per 50-gram ball.
• Contrast Color (CC) - Tranquil Blue: 2 to 4 balls depending on size (XS and S require 2 balls; 5XL requires 4 balls), providing the stranded colorwork accents on the upper sleeves and lower chest.

The pattern calls for US size needles (specific needle size is referenced in the full pattern documentation) appropriate for DK-weight yarn, which is the classification for Valley Yarns Northfield. Circular needles are recommended for working the body and sleeves in the round, with double-pointed needles or a small circular needle useful for the ribbed cuffs and neckline finishing.

Yarn Weight and Difficulty

This pattern is worked in DK weight, a versatile yarn weight that creates a fabric with good drape and stitch definition, ideal for displaying both textured stitches and stranded colorwork details. The pattern is rated as Intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to tackle colorwork and more complex shaping while still working with manageable construction methods.