Rowan Roden Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Roden Sweater by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Rowan Roden is a knitted sweater designed by Lisa Richardson. This garment is available in five sizes to fit bust measurements ranging from 81-86 cm up to 122-127 cm, with actual finished bust measurements from 131 cm to 171 cm. The sweater features a classic construction with distinct back and front panels, shaped shoulders, and detailed neckline shaping for a tailored fit.

Techniques Used

The Roden sweater is constructed using bottom-up knitting methodology, meaning the garment is worked from the hem upward. The pattern utilizes seamedworked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for precise shaping and control throughout the knitting process.

The pattern involves multiple shaping techniques including strategic decreasing at the neck edges and shoulder areas. The back and front panels each require careful shaping for the neckline, with decreases worked over consecutive rows to create a smooth, fitted neck opening. Shoulder shaping is achieved through successive cast-offs at the beginning of rows, creating clean, structured shoulder lines.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the Roden sweater is stockinette stitch (abbreviated as st st), which creates the smooth, classic fabric characteristic of this design. The pattern begins with a ribbed cuff worked in a K2, P2 ribbing pattern (knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches, repeated to the end of the row), which provides elasticity and a neat finished edge at the cast-on.

Ribbing serves both functional and aesthetic purposes in this sweater: it helps the garment maintain its shape and prevents rolling at the edges while creating a traditional, polished appearance. The transition from ribbing to stockinette stitch occurs after the initial ribbed rows, establishing the main fabric of the garment.

Materials and Specifications

The Roden sweater is designed to be worked in Rowan Valley Tweed yarn. The yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 8 to 11 balls of 50-gram yarn (the pattern was photographed in the colorway Bedale 106). This yarn choice provides a traditional, textured quality appropriate for a classic sweater design.

The pattern calls for two sizes of needles to achieve the proper fabric tension. 3mm (US 2/3) needles are used for the ribbed sections, while 3¼mm (US 3) needles are used for the main stockinette stitch fabric. The specified tension is 24 stitches and 36 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using the 3¼mm needles, making accurate gauge measurement essential for proper fit.

Pattern Details

The back panel is cast on with a substantial number of stitches—ranging from 158 stitches for the smallest size to 206 stitches for the largest size—and begins with the K2, P2 ribbing. The front panel follows a similar construction method but includes additional neckline shaping that creates the characteristic front neck opening. Both panels require careful attention to decreasing sequences, particularly at the neck and shoulders, to ensure symmetrical and professional-looking results.

This pattern is classified as suitable for knitters with intermediate skill level, reflecting the need to manage multiple shaping techniques simultaneously and maintain consistency across seamed sections. The downloadable PDF format allows crafters to access detailed row-by-row instructions, stitch counts for each size, and comprehensive shaping diagrams.