"Beatrix Jumper" - Jumper Knitting Pattern For Women in Willow and Lark Ramble

Beatrix Jumper: Stranded Colorwork Knitting Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Beatrix Jumper is a women's knitted sweater designed by Ann Kingstone, featuring a distinctive Fair Isle yoke with stranded colorwork. This classic jumper is part of Willow and Lark's Best of British Collection and draws inspiration from the iconic William Morris design 'The Strawberry Thief'. The garment showcases gently dancing birds around the yoke, creating a signature aesthetic that knitters will recognize as characteristic of Ann Kingstone's design style. Available in six sizes to fit bust measurements from 81 cm to 107 cm (32 to 42 inches), the Beatrix Jumper offers a timeless silhouette with a total length of 61 to 64 cm and consistent sleeve seams of 45 cm.

Techniques Used

This advanced-level knitting pattern employs two primary techniques that define its construction and visual appeal:

• Stranded Colorwork: The Fair Isle yoke features stranded knitting, a traditional technique where two colors of yarn are carried across the back of the work simultaneously. This method creates the intricate bird motifs and patterned design elements that wrap around the yoke area, requiring careful tension management to maintain even stitches and prevent puckering.
• Worked in the Round: The jumper is constructed using circular needles, allowing the body and yoke sections to be knitted in continuous rounds rather than flat pieces. This seamless construction method eliminates the need for seaming and creates a more polished, professional finish while maintaining consistent gauge throughout the garment.

Stitches and Construction

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the provided materials, the Beatrix Jumper utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with the stranded colorwork technique. The Fair Isle yoke construction requires working with two colors in a single round, dropping and picking up yarns as the pattern dictates. The pattern is graded across six sizes, with the yoke and sleeve cap shaping adjusted to accommodate different bust measurements while maintaining the integrity of the bird motif design.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The Beatrix Jumper is designed for Willow and Lark Ramble, a 100% wool yarn in DK (Double Knitting) weight. The main color (MC) requires 9 to 11 balls depending on size, while the contrast color (CC) requires 1 to 2 balls. Suggested colorways include Boysenberry 130 as the main color with Limestone 102 as the contrast color, or alternatively Night Sky 125 with Sky Blue 121. Each ball weighs 50 grams (1¾ ounces).

Needles and Tools: Construction requires a 4.00 mm (UK size 8, US size 6) circular needle measuring 40 cm (16 inches) for working the sleeves and yoke sections in the round. The DK weight yarn paired with 4.00 mm needles creates a fabric with good drape and definition, ideal for showcasing the stranded colorwork details.

Difficulty Level

Classified as an advanced knitting pattern, the Beatrix Jumper is best suited for experienced knitters who are comfortable with stranded colorwork techniques, managing multiple yarn colors simultaneously, and working seamlessly in the round. The Fair Isle yoke requires attention to tension and color changes, making it an engaging project for knitters looking to develop or refine their colorwork skills.