Rowan Lace Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Lace Sweater by Chloe Thurlow

What is Being Made

The Rowan Lace Sweater is a sophisticated knitted pullover garment designed to fit bust measurements ranging from 81-86 cm (32-34 inches) through to 122-127 cm (48-50 inches), with five size options available. This is a refined piece featuring decorative lace patterning throughout, making it suitable for intermediate to advanced knitters seeking a garment with visual texture and elegance.

Knitting Techniques

This sweater is constructed using several key knitting techniques:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is worked from the lower edge upward, allowing knitters to try on and adjust length as needed
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted on straight needles rather than in the round, creating separate front and back panels
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces are joined together using seaming techniques after completion
• Lace patterning: Decorative lace motifs are integrated throughout the garment using yarn overs and decreases to create openwork designs
• Shaping: Strategic increases and decreases shape the sweater at the bust, armholes, shoulders, and neckline for a fitted silhouette

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The sweater employs fundamental and decorative knitting stitches to create its finished appearance:

• Stockinette stitch: The base fabric used throughout, providing a smooth, classic knit surface
• Eyelet pattern: Decorative rows combining knit stitches with yarn forwards (yfwd) and knit two together (K2tog) decreases, creating small holes that form a regular pattern. Rows 23-28 demonstrate this technique with sequences such as "K2, K2tog, yfwd" repeated across rows
• Lace pattern: More complex openwork created through the combination of yarn overs and decreases across rows 1-36, establishing the primary decorative element of the garment
• Decreases for shaping: Knit two together (K2tog) and pattern two together (Patt2tog) stitches are used to reduce stitch counts at armholes, shoulders, and neckline

Materials and Tools

Yarn: Rowan Summerlite 4ply yarn is specified for this project. The yarn is photographed in Pure White 417, though other colorways are available. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 6 balls (50 grams each) for smaller sizes to 8 balls for the largest size.

Needles: Two pairs of needles are required. A pair of 2½mm needles (UK size 13, US size 1/2) is used for cast-on edges and ribbing, while a pair of 3mm needles (UK size 11, US size 2/3) is used for the main body and lace pattern work.

Additional notions: Stitch holders are needed to hold stitches during neckline and shoulder shaping.

Tension and Sizing

The pattern specifies a tension of 28 stitches and 36 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over stockinette stitch using 3mm needles. Accurate tension is essential for achieving the correct finished bust measurements, which range from 94.5 cm (37¼ inches) in the smallest size to 135.5 cm (53¼ inches) in the largest size.

Construction Details

The sweater is constructed in three main pieces: a back panel, a front panel, and sleeves (implied by armhole shaping). The back is worked first, beginning with a cast-on of between 94 and 118 stitches depending on size. Increases are worked at each end of alternating rows or every third row to shape the bust, building to between 123 and 175 stitches. The lace and eyelet patterns are established within the first 36 rows and maintained throughout the body. Armholes are shaped by casting off stitches at the beginning of rows, followed by decreases over several rows. The front is worked similarly but includes neck shaping, with decreases worked at the neckline edge over multiple rows to create a flattering curved neckline. Shoulder shaping is achieved through sequential cast-offs, with the back neck stitches left on a holder for later finishing.