Portofino Jumper Knitting Pattern

Portofino Sweater by Quail Studio

What is Being Made

Portofino is a knitted sweater designed by Quail Studio and published as a digital pattern by MODE at Rowan. This garment is crafted in Rowan Mohair Soft, a luxurious yarn that creates a soft, lightweight fabric ideal for layering or wearing close to the skin. The sweater is available in 10 different sizes, ranging from 71-76cm chest (28-30 inches) through to 152-157cm chest (60-62 inches), making it suitable for a wide range of body measurements. The actual chest measurement of the finished garment ranges from 113cm (44½ inches) in the smallest size to 193cm (76 inches) in the largest size, providing generous, comfortable fit across the size range.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

Portofino employs classic sweater construction techniques suitable for advanced beginner knitters. The pattern uses a two-needle approach with straightforward shaping methods. The sweater begins with a ribbed cuff worked on smaller needles, which provides elasticity and a neat finished edge. The body is then worked in stockinette stitch on larger needles, creating a smooth, refined fabric. The pattern incorporates armhole shaping and front neck shaping, with decreases worked at regular intervals to create a fitted neckline. The front neck shaping is accomplished through strategic decreasing at the neck edge over alternating rows, requiring careful attention to stitch counts and row counting. The pattern includes instructions for shaping shoulders and uses stitch holders to manage stitches during construction, a fundamental technique for garment assembly.

Stitches Used

The Portofino pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches that form the foundation of classic knitwear design:

• Ribbing (K2, P2 rib): Used for the initial cuff and lower edge, this alternating knit and purl pattern creates vertical lines and provides stretch and recovery to the fabric
• Stockinette stitch (st st): The primary stitch used for the body of the sweater, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, resulting in the classic smooth, V-textured fabric
• Decreasing stitches (P2tog): Purl two together decreases are used strategically for shaping, particularly at the front neck edge to create a refined neckline

Materials and Specifications

The sweater is worked in Rowan Mohair Soft, a premium yarn supplied in 50-gram balls. The yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 12 balls for the smallest size to 20 balls for the largest size. The pattern shown was photographed in Wine 10208, a rich, deep colorway. The sweater is knitted using two pairs of needles: 7mm (US 10.5) needles for the ribbed sections and 8mm (US 11) needles for the main body worked in stockinette stitch. The yarn is held double throughout the pattern, meaning two strands are worked together simultaneously, which increases the fabric weight and creates a more substantial garment. The working tension is 12 stitches and 18 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using the 8mm needles with yarn held double. Additional materials required include stitch holders for managing stitches during neck and shoulder shaping.

Pattern Features and Sizing

The Portofino pattern provides comprehensive sizing information with 10 size options, each with specific stitch counts and measurements. The back and front pieces are worked separately with detailed shaping instructions. The pattern specifies precise measurements for body length before armhole shaping begins, ranging from 42 to 46 centimeters depending on size. Front neck shaping is carefully detailed with specific decreasing sequences worked over alternating rows, requiring 21 to 30 decreases depending on the size being knitted. The pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations and provides row-by-row instructions for both back and front pieces, with clear indicators for right side and wrong side rows to ensure proper fabric construction.