"Micke Jumper" - Jumper Knitting Pattern in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

Micke Jumper – Children's Batwing Knitting Pattern by MillaMia

The Micke Jumper is a children's batwing-style pullover knitting pattern from MillaMia, designed to be both on-trend and comfortably easy to wear. Rated as a Beginner / Improving skill level project, it is an excellent choice for knitters who are building confidence and looking for a rewarding, wearable result. The distinctive feature of this jumper is its asymmetric, diagonal collar line, achieved by folding the collar over and blocking it in place — a small finishing step that gives the garment its signature contemporary look.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a children's batwing jumper (also known as a pullover or sweater) sized to fit children aged 1–2 up to 6–7 years. The actual chest measurements range from 58 cm (23 in) to 90 cm (35½ in), with lengths to shoulder ranging from 30 cm to 40 cm and sleeve lengths from 19 cm to 34 cm. The batwing silhouette gives the garment a relaxed, generous fit through the body and sleeves, making it practical and comfortable for active children.

Construction Techniques

• Bottom-up construction: The jumper is worked from the lower edge upward, which is a traditional and intuitive approach well suited to beginner knitters.
• Worked flat (back and forth in rows): All pieces are knitted in rows rather than in the round, keeping the technique straightforward and familiar.
• Seamed finishing: The individual pieces — body and sleeves — are joined together by seaming, a classic method that produces a neat, structured garment.
• Circular needle used as a straight needle: A 3.25mm (US 3) circular knitting needle is used at certain points where the stitch count becomes too large for standard straight needles. Importantly, the pattern is still worked back and forth in rows at all times — the circular needle is simply a practical tool, not an indication of working in the round.
• Blocking: The pattern specifically advises blocking the folded collar in place to achieve the essential asymmetric diagonal neckline that defines the Micke Jumper's look.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (Stockinette stitch in US terminology): The main body fabric of the jumper is worked in stocking stitch, producing a smooth, classic knitted surface. The tension/gauge is set at 25 stitches and 34 rows to 10 cm / 4 in over stocking stitch using 3.25mm needles.
• Garter stitch: Referenced within the pattern's abbreviations and commonly used for borders and edgings in MillaMia designs, providing a neat, non-curling finish.
• Ribbing / neckband: A folded collar is incorporated, worked on the smaller needle size to create the signature asymmetric neckline.
• Key stitch techniques include:
  • k2tog (knit two stitches together) — a simple right-leaning decrease used for shaping
  • m1 (make one) — an increase worked by picking up the loop lying before the next stitch and knitting into the back of it, used to shape the batwing sleeves and body
  • m1p (make one purlwise) — a paired increase worked on purl rows

Materials

The pattern calls for MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino yarn, a sport weight yarn sold in 50g / 1¾oz balls. The sample shown uses Fuchsia (shade 143), with the quantity ranging from 5 to 8 balls depending on the size being knitted. MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino is a fine merino wool yarn celebrated for its softness against children's skin, its stitch definition, and its wide range of colours — making it particularly well suited to garments worn close to the body.

Suggested alternative colourways provided in the pattern include Grass (141)