Hook Jumpers Knitting Pattern

Hook Jumpers in Rowan Brushed Fleece

What is Being Made

The Hook Jumpers is a knitted sweater designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. This garment is available in multiple sizes ranging from 71–76 cm to 142–147 cm bust measurement, making it suitable for a wide range of body sizes. The jumper features a structured construction with shaped armholes, shoulders, and a back neck opening, creating a fitted silhouette appropriate for everyday wear.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project classified at intermediate difficulty level, indicating it requires foundational knitting skills and familiarity with pattern reading. The construction method involves working flat pieces that are later assembled, rather than working in the round. The pattern incorporates several key shaping techniques essential to garment construction:

• Armhole shaping: Accomplished through strategic cast-offs at the beginning of rows to create graduated decreases. The pattern specifies casting off 2–5 stitches at the beginning of successive rows, followed by smaller decrements of 1–2 stitches, and finally 0–4 stitches, depending on the size being worked. This graduated approach creates a smooth, professional armhole curve.
• Shoulder shaping: Achieved through multiple cast-off rows at the beginning of right-side rows, with the pattern varying by size. Larger sizes require additional shaping steps to accommodate broader shoulders.
• Neck shaping: Incorporates a center back neck opening with stitches placed on a stitch holder for later finishing. The pattern uses K2tog (knit two together) decreases to shape the neck edges smoothly on each side.
• Pattern work: The design is available in two versions—one with a motif and one without—allowing crafters to choose their preferred aesthetic. The pattern notation "keeping patt correct throughout" indicates that stitch pattern consistency must be maintained while performing shaping operations.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches and techniques. Key stitches include:

• Knit stitch: The primary stitch forming the base fabric
• K2tog (knit two together): A right-leaning decrease used for neck shaping
• Cast-off (bind-off): Used extensively for armhole, shoulder, and final edge finishing
• Stitch holder placement: Used to preserve stitches for the center back neck and other sections requiring later work or three-dimensional finishing

The pattern maintains a consistent stitch pattern throughout the garment body, with shaping integrated seamlessly into the established pattern repeat.

Materials

The Hook Jumpers is worked in Rowan Brushed Fleece, a yarn available in 50-gram balls. The pattern offers two colorway options:

• Version with motif: Color A in Cairn (shade 263) and Color B in Rock (shade 273)
• Version without motif: Color A in Rock (shade 273) and Color B in Briar (shade 281)

Yarn quantities vary by size, ranging from 4 balls for the smallest sizes (71–76 cm) to 7 balls for the largest size (142–147 cm) in the primary color, with secondary colors requiring 3–6 balls depending on size and version.

The pattern requires two pairs of needles in different gauges to achieve proper fabric density and drape:

• 5mm needles (UK size 6 / US size 8): Used for ribbed or textured sections requiring a tighter gauge
• 6mm needles (UK size 4 / US size 10): Used for the main body fabric to create the characteristic Brushed Fleece drape and texture

The use of two needle sizes is a common technique in knitting to create definition between ribbed edges and the main garment body, ensuring proper fit and a professional finish.