121 Five College Sweater - Jumper Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Amherst

121 Five College Sweater – Knitting Pattern for Women by Kirsten Hipsky

The Five College Sweater is a beautifully textured women's pullover designed by Kirsten Hipsky and published as pattern #121. Worked in Valley Yarns Amherst, a 100% merino wool worsted-weight yarn, this intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a classic, richly detailed jumper available in three finished bust measurements: 38", 44", and 50". The design is a showcase of traditional stitch panel work combined with a modern seamless, top-down construction, making it an excellent project for knitters who are ready to move beyond basic garments and explore more complex surface texture.

Construction and Techniques

The Five College Sweater is constructed seamlessly from the top down and worked in the round, which eliminates the need for seaming and allows knitters to try on the garment as they progress. The back is begun with a provisional cast-on (noted as ideal but not required), which allows live stitches to be returned to the needle later for seamless joining. The top of the back is worked flat in rows before the front shoulders are picked up directly along the cast-on edge, a technique that creates a smooth, integrated shoulder join without sewing.

Each size begins with a different stitch count — 91 stitches for the 38" size, 91 stitches for the 44" size (with additional panels added around the core), and 105 stitches for the 50" size — and the stitch panels are arranged symmetrically across the back and front yoke. A Double Welt is worked at the conclusion of the back panel section before stitches are placed on a holder, creating a crisp, structured edge detail. The front shoulders are then picked up and worked simultaneously using separate balls of yarn, a technique that ensures both sides remain perfectly even.

Stitch Patterns and Texture Details

One of the most distinctive features of the Five College Sweater is its rich combination of multiple stitch panels arranged across the yoke. Each panel contributes its own visual texture, and together they create a sophisticated, heirloom-quality fabric. The stitch patterns used include:

• Moss Stitch – A classic reversible texture worked over a multiple of 2 stitches across a 4-row repeat, alternating knit and purl stitches in a shifting pattern. Moss stitch creates a dense, pebbly surface that frames the more intricate panels beautifully.
• Seed Diamond – An 8-stitch panel worked over a 4-row repeat, combining knit and purl stitches to form a raised diamond motif. This panel adds geometric elegance to the yoke design.
• Beaded Band – A 7-stitch panel that introduces a delicate, beaded linear texture. The Beaded Band appears multiple times across the yoke in the larger sizes, serving as a refined dividing element between the larger motif panels.
• Seed Chevron – A repeating chevron motif that forms the primary structural element of the back yoke. The 38" size works 9 total row-repeats (72 rows) of the Seed Chevron, while the 50" size works 10 total row-repeats (80 rows), reflecting the additional depth needed for the larger finished measurement.
• Furrows – A textured panel used in the front shoulder sections, adding horizontal ridged detail that complements the other stitch patterns.
• Stockinette Stitch – Used as the base fabric for gauge measurement and likely for portions of the body, providing a smooth contrast to the textured panels.

The arrangement of these panels varies by size. In the 38" size, the right shoulder features a Seed Diamond, Beaded Band, and Furrows sequence, while the left shoulder mirrors this in reverse. The 44" size adds an additional Beaded Band to each shoulder, expanding the textured yoke width. The 50" size incorporates additional Moss Stitch sections flanking the central panel arrangement, ensuring the texture scales proportionally with the larger bust measurement.

Materials and Gauge

The pattern is written specifically for Valley Yarns Amherst, a 100% merino wool yarn sold in 50g / 109-yard skeins. The recommended colorway shown in the pattern is