Jumper Knitting Pattern

Jumper in Rowan Big Wool by Katharina von Blumenthal

What is Being Made

This is an intermediate-level knitted jumper designed by Katharina von Blumenthal. The garment is worked seamlessly from the top down, beginning with a ribbed neckband that is folded and joined to create a finished neck edge. The yoke is constructed in one piece and worked downward to the armholes, where the sleeves and body are then separated for individual completion. The jumper is available in ten sizes, ranging from 71-76 cm chest (28-30 inches) up to 152-157 cm chest (60-62 inches), with finished chest measurements from 105 cm (41¼ inches) to 185 cm (72¾ inches).

Techniques Used

The primary construction technique is seamless circular knitting, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a smooth, professional finish. The neckband is worked in the round using a folded ribbing method—the ribbed edge is folded in half and the live stitches are knitted together with the corresponding cast-on edge stitches using a K2tog decrease, creating a neat, doubled neckline finish.

The yoke is shaped using the raglan method, which involves placing four raglan markers to define the back, sleeves, and front sections. This construction allows for even, symmetrical increases that create the characteristic diagonal lines from the neckline to the underarms. The pattern uses the magic loop method for the smallest sizes (71-76 cm, 81-86 cm, 91-97 cm, and 102-107 cm chest) during the initial yoke rounds when stitches are too few to fill a standard circular needle, then transitions to appropriately sized needles as stitch counts increase.

Stitches Used

The neckband is worked in 1x1 ribbing (alternating knit and purl stitches), which provides elasticity and helps the neck edge sit comfortably. The yoke shaping employs knit stitches as the primary stitch, with knit-two-together (K2tog) decreases used to join the ribbing during the neckband construction. Raglan increases are incorporated into the yoke pattern, though the specific increase method is not detailed in the provided excerpt.

Materials

This jumper is knitted using Rowan Big Wool yarn, a bulky-weight wool yarn sold in 100-gram skeins. The yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 12 skeins for the smallest sizes (71-76 cm and 81-86 cm chest) to 16 skeins for the largest size (152-157 cm chest). The yarn shown in the pattern photograph is White Hot 001, a crisp white colorway.

The needles required include multiple circular needles in 8mm (US 11) and 10mm (US 15) sizes. Specifically, the pattern calls for one 8mm circular needle no longer than 40 cm for the initial neckband work, and a progression of 10mm circular needles in 60 cm, 80 cm, and 100-150 cm lengths to accommodate the increasing stitch counts as the yoke expands. An 8mm circular needle in 100-150 cm length is also required for later body and sleeve sections. The use of multiple needle sizes and lengths ensures that stitches remain properly distributed throughout the seamless construction process.