Plymouth Yarn Women's Tunic Jumper Knitting Pattern

Plymouth Yarn Women's Tunic - Pattern No. 3444

Garment Overview

This downloadable knitting pattern creates a sophisticated women's tunic featuring a striking cable design worked in luxurious Baby Alpaca Worsted yarn. The tunic is available in five sizes ranging from Small to XXL, with finished chest measurements from 33½" to 50½" and lengths from 27" to 31". The design combines elegant cable work with reverse stockinette stitch detailing, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions.

Materials and Yarn

Yarn: Baby Alpaca Worsted by Plymouth Yarn in color 111 Dark Green. The pattern requires 5 to 8 skeins of 100g each, depending on size selected.

Needles: US Size 6 and US Size 8 needles are required. The pattern specifies a 16" circular needle in size 6 for ribbing sections, along with straight needles for flat knitting. Additional supplies include stitch holders and 2 stitch markers for cable work management.

Gauge and Tension

Proper gauge is essential for this pattern. Over stockinette stitch using size 8 needles, the gauge is 20 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches. The cable pattern, which spans 40 stitches, measures 8 inches across on size 8 needles. Achieving correct gauge ensures the finished tunic will fit as designed.

Construction Techniques

This tunic is constructed using a bottom-up approach, meaning knitting begins at the lower edge and progresses toward the neckline. The pattern employs both flat knitting for the body sections and worked in the round techniques for certain shaping areas. The finished garment is seamed together, creating clean, structured edges. This combination of techniques allows for precise shaping and professional finishing.

Stitch Techniques and Cable Work

The pattern features an intricate cable design as its signature element. The cable pattern is worked over 40 stitches and repeats every 10 rows, creating a complex and visually striking vertical panel down the center of the tunic. The cable work incorporates several specialized techniques:

• RT (Right Twist): A cable technique that twists stitches to the right, creating diagonal lines in the knitted fabric
• LT (Left Twist): The counterpart to RT, twisting stitches to the left for balanced cable design
• RPT and LPT: Advanced cable techniques involving slipping stitches to cable needles and holding them in front or back of work before knitting, creating dimensional cable crossings
• MB (Make Bobble): A textural embellishment that adds three-dimensional interest to the cable panel

Beyond the cable work, the tunic employs reverse stockinette stitch as a secondary stitch pattern, creating textural contrast with the cables. The pattern begins with a ribbed cuff worked in alternating knit and purl stitches (k3, p3 ribbing), which provides elasticity and a finished appearance at the hem.

Pattern Structure and Shaping

The back of the tunic is constructed first, beginning with a cast-on of 86 stitches for the smallest size, increasing to 128 stitches for the largest size. After working the ribbed hem for 4 inches, the pattern transitions to larger needles and begins the cable and reverse stockinette sections. Strategic decreases are worked every fourth row to create a fitted silhouette, with the number of decrease rows varying by size to accommodate different proportions. The sleeve length from underarm is consistent across all sizes at 18½ inches, ensuring proper arm hole depth and sleeve proportion.

Finished Dimensions

The tunic offers generous sizing options with finished chest measurements accommodating various body types. Sleeve length remains uniform at 18½" from the underarm across all sizes, while the overall tunic length increases incrementally with larger sizes to maintain proper proportions. This thoughtful sizing ensures the garment flatters different figures while maintaining design integrity.

Skill Level Considerations

This pattern is suitable for intermediate to advanced knitters due to the complexity of the cable work and the combination of techniques required. Knitters must be comfortable with cable abbreviations, twist stitches, and the ability to read a detailed stitch pattern while managing multiple techniques simultaneously. The use of stitch markers and stitch holders is essential for tracking cable crossings and managing live stitches during