Rowan Chard Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Chard Knitted Sweater by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Rowan Chard is a knitted sweater designed by Lisa Richardson, available in five size options to fit bust measurements from 81–86 cm (32–34 inches) through to 122–127 cm (48–50 inches). The finished garment features actual bust measurements ranging from 125.5 cm (49½ inches) at the smallest size to 164.5 cm (64¾ inches) at the largest. This is a lace-detailed pullover sweater with structured shaping at the shoulders and back neck.

Techniques Used

The Chard sweater is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create both structure and visual interest:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is worked from the lower edge upward, allowing for easier fitting adjustments and a natural progression through the pattern.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, meaning each component (back, front panels, and side panels) is completed as separate flat sections.
• Lace patterning: Decorative lace stitches are incorporated throughout the design, created using yarn forward techniques that add openwork detail to the fabric.
• Seamed construction: Individual pieces are sewn together using mattress stitch or similar seaming methods to create the finished garment, providing clean, professional edges.
• Shoulder shaping: The pattern includes detailed shaping at the shoulders and back neck, achieved through strategic cast-offs that create a tailored fit across the upper body.
• Neck shaping: The neckline is shaped with decreases worked at the neck edge over multiple rows, combined with cast-offs at the beginning of rows to create a smooth, finished neckline.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches combined with lace techniques. The primary stitch pattern is worked over a base of knit and purl stitches, with lace elements created using yarn forward (yfwd) increases paired with decreases. A notable pattern detail is the use of "(yfwd) twice" which, according to the pattern instructions, counts as a single stitch rather than two—on the following row, knitters work into this double yarn forward once only, dropping the second loop. This technique creates the characteristic openwork effect of the lace design while maintaining accurate stitch counts throughout the pattern.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Chard sweater is knitted using Rowan Creative Linen, a natural fiber yarn. The pattern requires 6, 7, 7, 8, or 8 balls of 100 gm yarn depending on the size being made. The photographed sample is shown in the Silver colorway (650).

Needles: Two needle sizes are required to create the proper fabric tension and structure. A 1 pair of 4 mm needles (UK size 8, US size 6) is used for ribbing or edge work, while a 1 pair of 4½ mm needles (UK size 7, US size 7) is used for the main pattern sections.

Tension: The pattern is designed to achieve 18 stitches and 25 rows over 10 cm (measured over the lace pattern) using the 4½ mm (US 7) needles. Achieving correct tension is essential for the garment to fit properly across all five sizes.

Pattern Structure and Construction Details

The Chard is constructed in separate pieces that are later seamed together. The pattern includes a back section, left front side panel, and right front side panel. Each section is worked flat from the bottom up, with the back and side fronts shaped to create the body of the sweater. Shoulder shaping is accomplished through a series of cast-offs at the beginning of rows, with specific stitch counts varying by size. The back neck features a holder for stitches that will later be picked up for the neckband. Neck shaping on the front sections involves simultaneous decreases at the neck edge and cast-offs at the shoulder, creating a smooth transition from the body to the neckline. The pattern provides detailed row-by-row instructions for shaping both sides of the neck separately to ensure symmetrical fit.