Rowan Buckler Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Buckler Knitted Sweater

What is Being Made

The Rowan Buckler is a knitted sweater designed by Martin Storey, available in six sizes ranging from 81-86 cm to 132-137 cm chest measurements. This garment is constructed as a classic pullover sweater with raglan armholes and a crew neckline, suitable for various body sizes from children through to adults.

Construction Method and Techniques

The Buckler sweater is worked using a bottom-up seamed construction, meaning the pieces are knitted separately from the lower edge upward and then joined together. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional seaming at the side seams and raglan edges. This approach provides excellent stitch definition and control over the finished garment shape.

The sweater features raglan armhole shaping, which creates diagonal seams running from the underarm to the neckline. This classic design element provides excellent fit and mobility. The back and front pieces are shaped with decreases worked at regular intervals—initially every 4th row, then alternating rows—to create the characteristic raglan slope. The front includes additional neck shaping with cast-off stitches to form the crew neckline opening.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Buckler uses a repeating pattern throughout the body of the sweater. The pattern is established over 16 rows and maintains consistency across the back, front, and sleeves. A special abbreviation used in this pattern is K1 below, which involves knitting into the stitch one row below while simultaneously slipping the stitch above, creating textural interest and visual depth in the finished fabric.

The raglan edge stitches are worked in stockinette stitch (st st) throughout the armhole shaping, providing clean, neat edges for seaming. Decreases are executed using standard techniques including slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K1, psso) and knit 2 together (K2tog), which create invisible decreases that blend seamlessly into the pattern.

Materials and Gauge

The Buckler is designed to be worked in Rowan Moordale yarn, a 100-gram ball weight yarn. Depending on the size being made, the pattern requires between 5 to 8 balls of yarn. The photographed sample is shown in the colorway Pewter 012, demonstrating the yarn's subtle tonal qualities.

The pattern is worked using two needle sizes: 3¼mm (US 3) needles for ribbed edges and 4mm (US 6) needles for the main body. The tension is set at 16 stitches and 42 rows to 10 centimeters measured over pattern using the 4mm needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements, as the sweater back measures between 40 and 42.5 centimeters in length depending on size.

Pattern Details and Sizing

The Buckler is offered in six graduated sizes with actual chest measurements ranging from 91 centimeters (35¾ inches) to 141 centimeters (55½ inches). Each size includes specific row counts and stitch counts for shaping elements, ensuring proper fit across the size range. The pattern provides detailed instructions for raglan armhole decreases, front neck shaping, and sleeve cap construction, with variations noted for each size to maintain consistent proportions.