Lute Plain Jumper Knitting Pattern

Lute Plain Knitted Sweater in Rowan Fine Tweed Haze

What Is Being Made

The Lute is an intermediate-level knitted sweater designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. This pullover garment is available in nine sizes, ranging from chest measurements of 71–76 cm (28–30 inches) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 inches), making it suitable for a wide range of body types. The finished garment features actual chest measurements from 98 cm (38½ inches) in the smallest size to 180 cm (70¾ inches) in the largest size, providing a comfortable, relaxed fit across the collection.

Construction and Shaping Techniques

The Lute sweater employs several key shaping techniques to create its structured silhouette. The garment begins with a ribbed waistband worked in a 2×2 rib pattern, which provides elasticity and definition at the lower edge. After the initial ribbed section, the body transitions to stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric surface.

Armhole extensions are created through strategic increases worked at both ends of alternate rows, adding width and shaping to the upper body. The shoulder seams are formed using a stepped cast-off method, with multiple rows of decreasing stitch counts to create a gradual slope. This technique ensures proper garment fit and professional finishing at the shoulder line. Back neck shaping is also incorporated into the pattern, allowing the neckline to sit appropriately on the wearer.

Stitch Techniques

The primary stitches used throughout the Lute include:

• 2×2 Ribbing: Alternating knit and purl stitches (K2, P2 repeat) create the elastic waistband. This rib pattern is worked for 10 rows total, with strategic decreases distributed evenly across the final row to establish the correct stitch count for the body.
• Stockinette Stitch: The main fabric of the sweater body is worked in stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), creating the smooth, flat appearance characteristic of classic knitwear.

The pattern includes detailed shaping rows that require careful attention to stitch counts and marker placement, particularly when working the armhole extensions and shoulder decreases. Increases are worked at garment edges to expand the width, while cast-off decreases are worked in a specific sequence to shape the shoulders properly.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Lute is designed to be worked in Rowan Fine Tweed, a premium yarn available in the colorway Haze. Fine Tweed is supplied in 50-gram balls, and yardage requirements vary by size. The pattern offers both a striped version and a plain version, allowing knitters to choose their preferred aesthetic.

For the striped version, the following Rowan Fine Tweed colors are used in a coordinated sequence:

• Yarn A: Nero 009 (black)
• Yarn B: Blush 010 (pale pink)
• Yarn C: Ash 008 (gray)
• Yarn D: Rise 001 (warm neutral)
• Yarn E: Mist 007 (soft blue-gray)
• Yarn F: Lawn 005 (green)
• Yarn G: Linen 006 (natural linen tone)

The pattern specifies the use of 4 mm (US 6) needles for the main body fabric, worked after the initial ribbed section. The ribbed waistband is typically worked on slightly smaller needles to create tighter elasticity, though the specific needle size for the ribbing section is referenced in the full pattern instructions. Knitters working the striped version will join and break off colors as required throughout the body stripe sequence, adding visual interest and texture to the finished garment.

Pattern Specifications

The Lute pattern includes a detailed body stripe sequence that repeats throughout the garment's length. The back piece measures 38–42 cm (15–16.5 inches) from the cast-on edge to the armhole markers, depending on size. Armhole depth varies from 15–25 cm (6–10 inches) based on the chosen size, ensuring proper proportions across the full range. The pattern provides row-by-row instructions for shaping, with specific stitch counts given for each of the nine sizes in bracketed sequences, allowing knitters to easily track their progress and ensure accuracy throughout the project.