Rowan 06 Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan 06 Jumper by Quail Studio

What is Being Made

The Rowan 06 Jumper is a classic knitted sweater designed by Quail Studio for Rowan Yarns. This garment is suitable for intermediate knitters (Skill Level 2) and comes in five size options with actual bust measurements ranging from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) up to 122–127 cm (48–50 in). The jumper features a traditional crew neckline with a ribbed collar detail and is constructed as a pullover style with set-in sleeves.

Techniques Used

The Rowan 06 Jumper employs several fundamental knitting construction techniques:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is worked from the lower edge upward, beginning with the back and front pieces
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, creating distinct front and back panels
• Seamed assembly: Finished pieces are joined together using seaming methods, specifically back stitch or mattress stitch for shoulder seams
• Set-in sleeves: Sleeves are shaped with increases and cast off separately, then sewn into armholes for a fitted silhouette
• Neck shaping: The front neck features progressive decreases over multiple rows to create a comfortable crew neckline opening
• Shoulder shaping: Both front and back pieces include shoulder shaping through strategic cast-offs

Stitches Used

The Rowan 06 Jumper utilizes a limited but effective stitch palette suitable for intermediate skill levels:

• Ribbed knit: A 1×1 rib pattern (alternating knit and purl stitches) is used for the cuffs and collar, providing elasticity and a finished appearance. The back begins with 12 rows of rib, and sleeves feature 12 rows of matching rib at the cuff
• Garter stitch: The main body of the jumper is worked entirely in garter stitch, which is created by knitting every row on the right side and purling every row on the wrong side. This produces a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges
• Increases and decreases: Shaping is achieved through strategically placed increases at sleeve edges (one stitch increased at each end on specified rows) and decreases at the front neck (one stitch decreased at the neck edge over consecutive rows and alternating rows)

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Rowan 06 Jumper is designed to be worked with Rowan Big Wool, a chunky-weight yarn. The pattern calls for 12, 13, 13, 14, or 14 balls of 100 gm each, depending on the size selected. The yarn is photographed in three colorways: Biscotti 82, Linen 48, and Normandy 86. For additional yarn information, knitters are directed to knitrowan.com.

The pattern specifies 7 mm (US 10½/11) needles for all pieces of the garment. These needles are used for both the ribbed sections and the garter stitch body. The pattern also requires stitch holders to temporarily hold stitches, particularly for the front neck collar stitches and when working each side of the neck shaping separately.

Tension and Finished Measurements

Achieving the correct tension is essential for this project. The pattern specifies 12 stitches and 24 rows to 10 cm (4 in) measured over garter stitch using 7 mm (US 10½) needles. The finished garment has an actual bust measurement of 101.5 cm (40 in) for the smallest size, increasing incrementally to 141.5 cm (55¾ in) for the largest size. Sleeves measure 44–45 cm in length across the size range.

Construction Overview

The jumper is assembled through a logical sequence of steps. The back and front panels are knitted separately from the bottom up, with the front featuring neck shaping in the later rows. Sleeves are worked flat with cuff ribbing and body garter stitch, incorporating increases to create a gentle cap shape. Once all pieces are complete, the right shoulder seam is joined using back stitch or mattress stitch. The collar is then picked up from the front neck opening and worked in ribbing