Rowan Ribbed Tunic Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Ribbed Tunic

What is Being Made

The Rowan Ribbed Tunic is a knitted sweater designed as a versatile layering piece with a contemporary tunic silhouette. This garment features a funnel neck, set-in sleeves, and side seam openings for added design interest and ease of movement. Available in five sizes ranging from small to extra-extra-large, the tunic is designed to fit bust measurements from 81–86 cm (32–34 inches) up to 122–127 cm (48–50 inches), with a finished length of approximately 113–153 cm (44½–60¼ inches) depending on size.

Techniques Used

This project employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the garment is knitted starting from the lower edge and working upward toward the shoulders. The tunic uses flat knitting throughout, worked on straight needles rather than in the round. Assembly involves seaming techniques, with the pattern recommending back stitch or mattress stitch for joining the shoulder seams and funnel neck. The sleeves are worked separately from the top downward, then picked up from the armhole edges and decreased gradually to create a fitted sleeve cap. Side seam openings are left open for the first 20 cm (approximately 8 inches) from the hem, a design feature that requires careful finishing during the making-up process.

Stitches Used

The Rowan Ribbed Tunic showcases two primary stitch patterns:

• Rib Pattern: The main body of both the back and front panels is worked in a textured rib stitch. The rib pattern is established over two rows: Row 1 (right-side facing) is knit 3, purl 1, repeated to the end; Row 2 is knit 1, purl 1, knit 3, purl 1, repeated to the last stitch, then knit 1. This creates vertical columns of texture that run the full length of the tunic, providing elasticity and visual interest.
• Stockinette Stitch: The sleeves are worked entirely in stockinette stitch (alternating knit and purl rows), which creates a smooth, classic fabric that contrasts with the textured body.

The pattern requires careful tension management, as the rib pattern is worked at 26 stitches and 40 rows over 10 centimeters, while the stockinette stitch sleeves are worked at 26 stitches and 34 rows over 10 centimeters, both using the same needle size.

Materials

The Rowan Ribbed Tunic is designed to be worked in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK, a lightweight double-knitting weight yarn. The pattern calls for 15–18 balls of 50-gram skeins depending on size, with the photographed sample shown in Charcoal 211. All knitting is worked on 3½mm (US 4) needles, and the pattern requires four stitch markers to denote key points along the armhole edges during sleeve pickup. The yarn choice of Alpaca Soft DK provides a soft, luxurious drape suitable for the tunic's relaxed silhouette while maintaining the definition of the rib and stockinette textures.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as Skill Level 2, indicating it is suitable for knitters with some experience beyond absolute beginners. The project requires competency in basic stitch techniques, tension control, reading pattern instructions, shaping techniques including decreasing, and assembly skills such as mattress stitch seaming.