July Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

July Sweater in Rowan Four Seasons

What is Being Made

The July Sweater is a knitted pullover sweater designed by Kim Hargreaves. This intermediate-level garment is available in nine sizes, ranging from a chest measurement of 71–76 cm (28–30 inches) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 inches). The sweater features a fitted silhouette with shaped armholes and a crew neckline, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques to create its structure and visual interest. Cable work is a primary decorative element, achieved through the use of a cable needle to create twisted stitch patterns. The pattern includes shaping techniques such as decreasing at armholes to create fitted sleeves and shoulder shaping to ensure proper garment fit. The neckline is finished with a neckband, worked on a circular needle to create a neat, professional edge. The pattern requires careful attention to maintaining stitch patterns while simultaneously working decreases and shaping, which contributes to its intermediate difficulty level.

Stitches Used

The July Sweater incorporates cable stitches as its primary stitch pattern. The pattern uses specific cable abbreviations including:

• C3B (Cable 3 Back): slip one stitch onto a cable needle and hold at back of work, knit two stitches, then knit one from the cable needle
• C3F (Cable 3 Front): slip two stitches onto a cable needle and hold at front of work, knit one stitch, then knit two from the cable needle

These cable stitches are worked in a repeating pattern throughout the body of the sweater, creating textured vertical lines. The pattern is maintained consistently across the back, front, and sleeves, with adjustments made only where shaping occurs.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The July Sweater is designed to be worked in Rowan Four Seasons yarn, a worsted-weight yarn sold in 50-gram balls. The sample shown in the pattern is photographed in the colorway Cloudy 003. Yardage requirements vary by size but are calculated based on the pattern specifications.

The pattern calls for two pairs of needles in different sizes to create proper tension and fabric characteristics:

• 4½mm (UK size 7 / US size 7) needles for ribbed edges and the neckband
• 5mm (UK size 6 / US size 8) needles for the main body of the sweater
• 4½mm circular needle (no more than 40 cm in length) for working the neckband in the round
• Cable needle for working the cable stitch patterns

The pattern specifies a tension of 19 stitches and 23 rows to 10 centimeters, measured over the cable pattern using the 5mm needles. Achieving correct tension is essential for obtaining the proper garment dimensions and ensuring the cable pattern displays correctly.