Rowan Toby Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Toby Knitted Sweater by Kim Hargreaves

What is Being Made

Toby is a knitted sweater designed by Kim Hargreaves for Rowan. This children's garment is available in six sizes ranging from 6-12 months through 4-5 years, with finished chest measurements from 46 cm to 61 cm (18 to 24 inches). The sweater features decorative spot motifs worked into the body using the intarsia technique, creating a charming design element on the front of the garment.

Knitting Techniques Used

Bottom-up construction: The sweater is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing the knitter to try on the garment as it progresses and easily adjust length if needed.

Intarsia method: The spot motifs are incorporated using the intarsia technique, which involves working with separate lengths of yarn for different colored sections. This method creates clean, professional-looking color changes without the bulk that would result from stranding yarns across the back of the work. The pattern provides detailed chart rows for precise placement of the spot designs.

Seamed construction: The sweater pieces are worked flat on straight needles and then seamed together, creating a structured, finished garment with defined seams.

Worked flat: Rather than working in the round, all pieces are created using flat knitting on straight needles, which is then assembled through seaming.

Stitches Used

Ribbed edging: The sweater begins with a knit-purl rib pattern (K3, P3 repeat with edge stitches) worked over 8 rows using the smaller needles. This elastic rib creates a fitted edge at the lower body that helps the sweater maintain its shape.

Stocking stitch: The main body of the sweater is worked in stocking stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), creating a smooth, classic fabric with a neat appearance on the front and textured reverse on the back.

Chart-based colorwork: The intarsia spot motifs are worked from charts that specify exact stitch placement and row numbers, requiring careful attention to the pattern instructions for accurate placement of the design elements.

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The sweater uses Rowan Wool Cotton, a blend fiber that combines the warmth of wool with the breathability of cotton. Two colors are required:

• Yarn A (Clear 941): The main color, requiring 3-7 balls of 50g depending on the size being knitted
• Yarn B (Gypsy 910): The contrasting color for the spot motifs, requiring 1 ball of 50g for all sizes

Needles: The pattern calls for two pairs of straight needles in metric sizing. The 3¼mm (US 3) needles are used for the ribbed edging, while the 4mm (US 6) needles are used for the main body fabric.

Gauge/Tension: The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch using the 4mm needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the sweater to fit properly across all the different size options.

Construction Details

The back piece is cast on using the smaller needles and ribbed edging, then switched to the larger needles for the main body. The front follows the same construction as the back until the point where the spot motifs are introduced. The intarsia charts guide the placement of the colored spots, which are worked while maintaining the stocking stitch fabric. Armhole shaping and shoulder shaping are worked using bind-off decreases, and the back neck is shaped by binding off center stitches and working each shoulder separately. The front piece mirrors the back shaping while incorporating the decorative spot pattern.