Bow Jumper Knitting Pattern

Bow Sweater in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK

What is Being Made

The Bow is a knitted sweater designed as an intermediate-level project. This garment is available in nine different sizes, ranging from a 71–76 cm chest measurement (approximately 28–30 inches) up to 152–157 cm (approximately 60–62 inches), making it suitable for a wide range of body types. The finished garment features an actual chest measurement ranging from 96 cm to 176 cm depending on the size selected.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The Bow sweater is constructed using fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for intermediate crafters. The garment is worked in pieces—a back, front, and neckband—which are then assembled using mattress stitch or back stitch seaming methods. The front features a shaped neckline with strategic decreases to create a flattering neck opening. The construction includes a ribbed neckband that is picked up and knitted directly from the garment edges, a technique that requires picking up stitches along the front and back neck edges and working them in the round or flat to create a finished collar.

Shaping is incorporated throughout the design, with the front worked to a specific row count that is fewer than the back piece, allowing the front neckline to be shaped independently. The pattern uses stitch holders to temporarily hold stitches during construction, a standard technique for managing multiple sections of a garment.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure is fisherman's rib, which is a textured, elastic ribbing pattern. This stitch is worked throughout the garment and creates a distinctive fabric with excellent recovery and drape. The pattern includes a special abbreviation, K1b (knit into the back of the next stitch), which adds textural variation and is incorporated into the fisherman's rib construction. The neckband utilizes standard knit stitches picked up from the garment edges.

Materials and Tools

The Bow sweater is knitted using Rowan Alpaca Soft DK yarn, a lightweight double-knit weight yarn supplied in 50-gram balls. The pattern indicates that the sweater was photographed in two colorways: Charcoal 211 and Simply Black 216. The yarn requirements vary by size, with the smallest size requiring 9 balls and the largest sizes requiring 12 balls of yarn.

Knitting is worked on 3.75 mm (US size 5) needles, which are appropriately sized for the DK-weight yarn. The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 45 rows (or 22.5 visible rows) over 10 centimeters when measured over fisherman's rib using the 3.75 mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for the garment to fit as designed.

Additional supplies required include stitch holders for managing stitches during construction and a pressing surface for finishing, as the pattern recommends pressing the completed garment according to the yarn manufacturer's care instructions.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated at intermediate skill level, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques such as casting on, knit and purl stitches, increasing and decreasing, and seaming. The fisherman's rib stitch and the neckline shaping provide moderate complexity without requiring advanced techniques.