Rowan Tuva Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Tuva Stranded Knit Sweater

What is Being Made

Rowan Tuva is a knitted sweater designed by Arne & Carlos, available in five sizes to fit bust measurements from 81-86 cm (32-34 inches) up to 122-127 cm (48-50 inches). The finished garment chest measurements range from 140 cm to 180 cm (55 to 71 inches), offering a relaxed, comfortable fit. This is a classic pullover-style jumper worked in a combination of solid and patterned sections.

Techniques Used

Rowan Tuva employs several key knitting techniques to create its distinctive design:

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is knitted from the lower edge upward, allowing for easier fitting adjustments and a more intuitive building process.
• Seamed assembly: Pieces are worked flat and then seamed together, creating clean, finished edges and allowing for precise shaping.
• Stranded colorwork (Fair Isle): The pattern features Fair Isle technique throughout the main body, where yarn B is carried across the back of the work while creating the intricate two-color pattern repeat. The pattern note indicates a 23-row repeat that is worked continuously across the garment.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted on straight needles in flat rows rather than in the round, giving the maker full control over shaping and seaming.

Stitches Used

The construction relies on fundamental knitting stitches:

• Ribbing: The lower edge begins with rib stitch for 26 rows, creating an elastic, fitted band that helps the sweater maintain its shape. A single stitch increase is worked at each end of the final rib row to transition smoothly into the main pattern.
• Stockinette stitch (st st): The main body and sleeves are worked entirely in stockinette stitch, beginning with a knit row. This smooth, classic stitch provides an ideal canvas for the Fair Isle colorwork pattern.
• Increases and decreases: Strategic increases are used to shape the sleeve cap (increasing 1 stitch at each end on alternating rows, then on consecutive rows), and decreases are worked at the front neck edge to create a flattering neckline shaping.

Materials

Rowan Tuva uses two distinct yarns to achieve its textured, sophisticated appearance:

• Rowan Felted Tweed (Yarn A): The primary yarn in the colorway Seafarer, with 6-7 balls of 50-gram weight required depending on size. This yarn provides structure and durability to the garment.
• Rowan Kidsilk Haze (Yarn B): Used doubled throughout the pattern in the Vanilla colorway, requiring 6-8 balls of 25-gram weight depending on size. The doubling of this delicate yarn creates the Fair Isle pattern while adding softness and subtle sheen to the design.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires three needle sizes to accommodate different sections:

• One pair of 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the ribbed cuff and lower edge
• One pair of 4mm (US 6) needles for the main body and Fair Isle colorwork
• A 3¼mm (US 3) circular needle, no longer than 40 cm, for managing stitches during neckline shaping

This needle progression allows for a smooth transition from the tight, elastic ribbing to the larger gauge required for the Fair Isle pattern, ensuring proper stitch definition and pattern clarity throughout the sweater.