Petunia - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Tahki Yarns Tandem

Petunia Women's Jumper Knitting Pattern by Marjie Lafreniere in Tahki Yarns Tandem

The Petunia is a women's pullover jumper knitting pattern designed by Marjie Lafreniere and published by Tahki Stacy Charles Inc. It is rated Easy, making it an accessible project for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques but not yet ready for complex construction. The design features a relaxed, wearable silhouette worked in bold, cheerful stripes using Tahki Yarns Tandem, a multi-fiber worsted weight yarn available in a vibrant palette of colors.

What Is Being Made

Petunia is a seamed women's pullover sweater worked in pieces and joined at the shoulders and sides. It is designed with a straightforward rectangular or minimal-shaping construction, making it ideal for knitters looking to build confidence with garment making. The finished jumper features a defined neckline created by leaving a measured opening at the shoulder seam, and the stripe sequence gives the finished piece a lively, colorful appearance. It is available in four sizes:

• Small: 39"/99 cm bust, 22½"/57 cm length
• Medium: 42"/106½ cm bust, 23¾"/60½ cm length
• Large: 45"/114½ cm bust, 24¼"/61½ cm length
• XL: 48"/122 cm bust, 25½"/65 cm length

Techniques Used

The Petunia jumper is constructed using a seamed, worked flat method, meaning the front and back panels are knitted separately as flat pieces and then sewn together. This classic approach to garment construction is excellent for knitters who prefer working back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round. Seaming is done at the shoulders and sides, with stitch markers placed to define the shoulder join and leave the correct width open for the neckline.

• Seamed construction: Front and back worked as separate flat pieces, then joined at the shoulders and sides for a neat, structured finish.
• Stripe technique: Multiple colors are introduced in a stripe sequence, requiring yarn management and color changes across rows. Working stripes flat allows for easy yarn carry or cutting and rejoining at the edges.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted back and forth in rows, using standard knit and purl stitches.
• Shoulder and neck shaping: Stitch markers are placed at measured intervals from each edge to define shoulder seam points and leave the correct neck opening, a simple but important finishing technique.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout the Petunia jumper is Stockinette stitch, which is the foundation of the fabric. Stockinette is created by knitting all stitches on right-side rows and purling all stitches on wrong-side rows when working flat. It produces a smooth, classic fabric with a slight natural curl at the edges, which is managed through seaming and finishing. The gauge for this pattern is set in Stockinette stitch:

• Gauge: 12½ stitches and 26 rows = 4"/10 cm in Stockinette stitch
• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary fabric stitch used for both the front and back panels throughout the garment.

Achieving the correct gauge is especially important in a garment pattern like Petunia, as even small variations in stitch or row gauge can significantly affect the finished bust measurement and length. Knitters are encouraged to swatch carefully and adjust needle size as needed before casting on.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The pattern is designed specifically for Tahki Yarns Tandem, a worsted weight yarn with a unique multi-fiber blend of 28% cotton, 28% viscose, 28% nylon, and 16% acrylic. Each ball weighs 1.75oz/50g and contains 107yds/98m. This blend gives the yarn a soft drape from the viscose, breathability from the cotton, durability from the nylon, and easy care from the acrylic — making it a practical and comfortable choice for a wearable everyday jumper. The pattern uses five named colorways in a stripe sequence: