Crumble Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Crumble Sweater in Rowan Summerlite DK

What is Being Made

The Crumble Sweater is a knitted baby sweater designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. This garment is tailored for infants, available in four sizes to fit ages 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, and 9-12 months, with actual chest measurements ranging from 52 cm to 57.5 cm (20½ to 22¾ inches). The sweater features a classic pullover construction with raglan armholes and includes a button-front closure with seven embossed coconut buttons measuring 1.4 cm each.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques throughout its construction. The sweater begins with lace rib detailing, which combines eyelet lace elements with ribbed texturing to create visual interest and texture variation. Raglan armhole shaping is used to create the sleeve cap, requiring careful decreasing at the armhole edges while maintaining pattern continuity. The pattern includes bobble embellishments created using the make bobble (MB) technique, which involves working multiple stitches into a single stitch, turning the work, and then passing stitches over one another to create a three-dimensional textured knot. Throughout the construction, the pattern requires pattern matching during decreases, ensuring that each decrease is balanced by an increase to maintain the integrity of the lace and textured stitch patterns.

Stitches Used

The Crumble Sweater incorporates a variety of essential knitting stitches. Knit and purl stitches form the foundation of the fabric. Yarn forward (yfwd) and knit two together (K2tog) create the eyelet lace elements characteristic of the lace rib pattern. Slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K1, psso) is used for decreasing, particularly during raglan armhole shaping. The make bobble (MB) stitch is a specialized technique that creates decorative raised bumps across the fabric surface. The pattern is worked from a 20-row repeat chart for the body, allowing for consistent patterning across the front and back pieces. The lace rib pattern itself is formed by a two-row repeat combining yarn forwards, knit two togethers, knit stitches, and purl stitches in a specific sequence.

Materials

The Crumble Sweater is knitted using Rowan Summerlite DK yarn, a lightweight double knitting weight yarn. The yardage required varies by size: 2 balls (50 gm each) for the 0-3 month size, and 3 balls for the remaining three sizes. The yarn used for the photographed sample is Pink Powder 472, though other colorways in the Summerlite DK range are available.

The project requires two pairs of needles: 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the ribbed cuffs and initial cast-on sections, and 3½mm (US 4) needles for the main body and patterned sections. The tension is set at 22 stitches and 31 rows to 10 cm when measured over the pattern using the 3½mm needles, ensuring proper garment fit and drape.

Seven embossed coconut buttons, each measuring 1.4 cm, provide the fastening for the front opening, adding a natural, textured detail to the finished sweater.