Maritime Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Maritime Sweater in Rowan Pebble Island

What is Being Made

The Maritime Sweater is a knitted pullover garment designed by Erika Knight, available in nine different sizes with chest measurements ranging from 71-76 cm to 152-157 cm. This intermediate-level sweater features a structured neckline and is constructed using classic knitting techniques to create a refined, wearable garment suitable for various body sizes.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to construct the sweater. The garment is worked in pieces—back, front, and sleeves—which are subsequently assembled. The pattern uses short-row shaping to form the neckline, a technique where knitting is turned before completing a full row, creating gradual shaping without increasing or decreasing stitches dramatically. This method is visible in the instructions where stitches are wrapped and turned at specific intervals to contour the shoulder and neck areas.

The construction involves working each side of the neckline separately after the initial shaping, allowing for precise control over the neck opening. The pattern also incorporates a folded hem or turning ridge, created by working a purl row on the right side to establish a visible fold line, which adds structural definition to the garment.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (Jersey Endroit): The primary stitch throughout the garment, created by alternating knit and purl rows. This creates a smooth, classic fabric with a distinctive V-pattern texture on the right side.
• Garter Stitch: Implied in the initial ribbing sections and edge treatments, created by knitting every row to produce a textured, elastic fabric.
• Wrapped Stitches: Used in the short-row shaping technique, where stitches are wrapped around the working yarn and then knitted together with their wrapping strand on subsequent rows to prevent holes and create seamless shaping.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Maritime Sweater is designed to be knitted with Rowan Pebble Island yarn, a fingering or sport-weight yarn sold in 50-gram balls. The pattern specifies the yarn in Desire 021 as the primary colorway shown, with Elephant 022 offered as an alternative option, providing versatility in color selection for knitters.

Two sizes of knitting needles are required for this project: UK size 4 needles (3.5 mm) and UK size 4½ needles (3.75 mm). The smaller needles are used for ribbed edgings and initial cast-on sections to create elasticity and structure, while the larger needles are used for the main body fabric in stockinette stitch. The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over 10 centimeters when working stockinette stitch with the size 4½ needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

The pattern also calls for one gray mother-of-pearl button measuring 1.5 centimeters, used as a functional or decorative closure element on the finished garment.

Pattern Structure and Sizing

The Maritime Sweater is offered in nine graduated sizes, with finished chest measurements of 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, and 162 centimeters. This extensive size range accommodates knitters seeking garments from extra-small through extra-large proportions. The pattern uses bracketed sizing notation, where the first number applies to the smallest size, and subsequent numbers in brackets correspond to each progressively larger size.