Rowan Vervaine Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Vervaine Sweater by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

Vervaine is a classic knitted sweater designed by Lisa Richardson for Rowan. This garment is available in five sizes ranging from Small to Extra Extra Large, with finished bust measurements from 81-86 cm (32-34 inches) to 122-127 cm (48-50 inches). The sweater features a traditional pullover construction with a crew neckline and is designed to be a versatile wardrobe staple.

Knitting Techniques

This pattern employs bottom-up seamed construction, meaning the sweater is knitted from the lower edge upward and then assembled using seams. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, requiring pieces to be joined together during finishing. The pattern includes shaping techniques such as strategic decreases at the neckline and shoulders to create a well-fitted silhouette that tapers toward the neck and shoulder areas.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The primary stitch used throughout Vervaine is stockinette stitch (abbreviated as st st in the pattern), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a recognizable V-pattern texture. The pattern specifies a tension of 23 stitches and 32 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over stockinette stitch using the larger needles, ensuring consistent sizing across all garment sizes. Decreases are worked at the neck edge and shoulder shaping points to achieve the garment's fitted construction.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Vervaine is designed to be knitted using Rowan Tetra Cotton, a natural fiber yarn. The pattern requires 5 to 8 balls of 50-gram yarn depending on the chosen size, with the photographed sample shown in the colorway Garda 008. Two pairs of needles are required: 3.25mm (US 3) needles and 4mm (US 6) needles. The smaller needles are typically used for ribbed edgings or cuffs, while the larger needles are used for the main body fabric worked in stockinette stitch.

Garment Specifications

• Finished length: 56-64 cm (22-25 inches)
• Finished width at underarm: 43-67.5 cm (17-26.5 inches)
• Available in five sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, and Extra Extra Large
• Seamed construction with separate back, front, and sleeve pieces
• Crew neckline with decreases worked to shape the neck opening
• Shoulder shaping achieved through stepped cast-offs

Pattern Structure

The pattern provides detailed row-by-row instructions for the back piece, front piece, and neck shaping. The back is worked first, establishing the length and width of the garment. The front follows a similar construction but includes earlier shaping at the neckline to create the crew neck opening. Shoulder shaping on both back and front uses a series of decreases followed by stepped cast-offs to create a properly fitted armhole and shoulder seam. The pattern notes indicate that pieces should be pressed before assembly and joined using seaming techniques described in accompanying pattern information.