The Perfect Christmas Jumper is exactly as described – the perfect jumper for every Christmas season! With stylish 1940’s shape of neat fitting body sitting on the waistline, a crew neck with back neck opening, and long elegant sleeves, The Perfect Christmas Jumper is a true classic. The front of the jumper features a repeating abstract colourwork motif to suggest pine trees followed by two dramatic stags with resplendent antlers on the upper yoke. The single coloured back of the sweater creates a refined contrast and the sleeves repeat the abstracted tree shapes on the upper sleeve heads.
A choice of two sleeve heads are included in the pattern - the quintessential 1940s ‘box head’ sleeve or a softer gathered sleeve head for a less dramatic silhouette.

The Perfect Christmas Jumper is knitted in four separate pieces which are then sewn together, with the colourwork sections on the front and sleeves, knitted using a combination of stranded colourwork and intarsia techniques.

The Perfect Christmas Jumper is knitted in Excelana North fingering weight yarn, 100% British wool, hand dyed at our Lake District studio. We have used bold Siren – a strong, true red, paired with Alabaster, the natural undyed creamy-white shade of Excelana.

Charlie is shown modelling the 2nd size to fit 82-86 cm (32-34 in) chest with 5cm (2in) of positive ease.

The pattern includes instructions for 6 sizes to fit from 71 to 127 cm (28-50 in) chest circumference with charted instructions for the colourwork sections plus a comprehensive sizing chart and useful schematic.

Yarn kits are available at Susan Crawford Vintage.

Yarn
Susan Crawford Excelana North Fingering weight yarn, 100% Bluefaced Leicester (165m / 180yds per 100g skein)
6 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) skeins shade Siren – yarn A
1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2) skeins shade Alabaster – yarn B

Suggested needles
Small needles: 1 pair of 2.75mm (US 2) straight needles and 2.75mm (US 2) circular needle (60cm in length)

Large needles: 1 pair of 3.25mm (US 3) straight needles or 3.25mm (US3) circular needle (80–100cm in length)

Gauge
28 sts and 36 rows = 10cm (4in) over stocking stitch worked flat, after blocking. We obtained this gauge using 3.25mm needles.

31 sts and 34 rows = 10cm (4in) over stranded colourwork pattern worked flat, after blocking. We obtained this gauge using 3.25mm needles.

If necessary, use an alternative needle size to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions
4 buttons
Waste yarn
Sewing needle and thread

Techniques
Stranded colourwork
Intarsia
Following a chart
Sewing up a garment