#1225 Mount Rainier - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women & Men in Valley Yarns Northampton by Valley Yarns

Pattern Summary: #1225 Mount Rainier – Unisex Striped Pullover Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman

About This Pattern

The #1225 Mount Rainier is a beautifully conceived unisex pullover knitting pattern designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns in 2022. Inspired by the sweeping natural tones of the Pacific Northwest, this pattern is built around a sophisticated striped colorwork concept that uses subtle gradient color shifts to create visual depth and movement across the fabric. It is available as a downloadable PDF and is suitable for knitters at the Adventurous Beginner skill level, making it an ideal first sweater project while still offering enough creative engagement to satisfy more experienced knitters.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a classic crewneck pullover sweater — also known as a jumper — designed to be worn by both women and men. The silhouette is relaxed and wearable, featuring set-in sleeves and a crewneck neckline. The finished garment is intended to be worn with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease, giving it a comfortable, slightly relaxed fit that works well across a wide range of body types and styling preferences.

The sweater is available in a generous range of nine sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, and 5XL, with finished chest circumferences ranging from 34½ inches up to 64¾ inches. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size Large, with a finished chest circumference of 45½ inches.

Design Details and Colorwork

The defining visual feature of the Mount Rainier pullover is its striped pattern worked in three carefully chosen colorways. Rather than using high-contrast stripes, the design employs subtle gradient color shifts that transition gently across the body and sleeves of the garment. This approach creates a sophisticated, tonal aesthetic that feels modern and refined rather than bold or graphic.

The three colors used in the sample are:

• MC (Main Color): Valley Yarns Northampton in Color 40 Ocean Heather
• CC1 (Contrast Color 1): Valley Yarns Northampton in Color 50 Medium Gray
• CC2 (Contrast Color 2): Valley Yarns Northampton in Color 55 Stonewash

These three tones — a muted blue-green heather, a classic medium gray, and a soft stonewash — work together to produce a cohesive, nature-inspired palette that reflects the misty, layered tones of the mountain landscape the pattern is named after. However, because Valley Yarns Northampton is available in an extensive color palette, knitters are encouraged to explore their own color combinations to create entirely different gradient effects and stripe personalities.

Construction Techniques

The Mount Rainier pullover is constructed using a bottom-up, seamless method worked in the round. This approach is widely favored by modern knitters for several practical reasons. Working from the bottom up means the knitter begins at the hem of the body and works upward toward the shoulders, allowing for easy length adjustments along the way. Working in the round on circular needles eliminates the need for seaming along the sides, which simplifies finishing and produces a smooth, uninterrupted fabric surface — particularly beneficial when working striped colorwork, as the jog between rounds can be managed more easily.

The set-in sleeves are a more tailored construction detail that shapes the armhole and sleeve cap to follow the natural curve of the shoulder. While slightly more involved than a simple drop-shoulder or raglan construction, set-in sleeves give the finished garment a polished, fitted silhouette that works well for both casual and slightly dressier occasions. The crewneck is a timeless, versatile neckline that sits at the base of the neck and complements the relaxed, classic style of the sweater.

The striped technique used in this pattern is an accessible form of colorwork — far simpler than stranded or intarsia knitting — as it involves carrying only one color at a time and switching between colors at the beginning of rounds. This makes it an excellent introduction to working with multiple colors