Seek Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Seek Sweater in Rowan Softyak DK

What is Being Made

The Seek Sweater is a children's knitted pullover garment designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. This intermediate-level project is available in five size options ranging from age 3-4 years through 11-12 years, with corresponding chest measurements from 53-56 cm (21-22 inches) up to 76-79 cm (30-31 inches). The finished garment features an actual chest measurement of 65.5 cm, 71 cm, 76.5 cm, 82 cm, or 87.5 cm depending on the size selected.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Seek Sweater employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques appropriate for developing knitters. The garment construction begins with ribbed edging worked on smaller needles to create elasticated cuffs and hem sections. The main body and sleeves are worked in stockinette stitch, the most common knit fabric. Raglan armhole shaping is used to create the sleeve cap, involving decreases worked at regular intervals to gradually reduce stitches. Neck shaping is incorporated through strategic decreases to form the front neckline opening, with stitches held on holders for later finishing. The pattern uses slip stitch decreases (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, and slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over) for refined edge treatment.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K) – the fundamental stitch forming the face of stockinette fabric
• Purl stitch (P) – used on wrong-side rows to create stockinette and in ribbed sections
• Ribbing (K2, P2 repeat) – elastic stitch pattern used for cuffs and hem to provide stretch and recovery
• Stockinette stitch (st st) – alternating knit and purl rows creating a smooth, flat fabric
• Slip stitch decreases – including slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K1, psso) and slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K2tog, psso) for decorative and functional shaping
• Knit 2 together (K2tog) – right-leaning decrease
• Purl 2 together (P2tog) – decrease on wrong-side rows
• Knit 2 together and fasten off (K2tog and fasten off) – final stitch closure

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Seek Sweater is designed to be worked in Rowan Softyak DK, a double-knitting weight yarn supplied in 50-gram balls. The pattern specifies three colorway options: Lea (color 236), Jaune (color 252), and Canopy (color 254). Yarn quantities vary by size, ranging from 2 balls of color A for the smallest sizes up to 3 balls for the largest size, with smaller quantities of colors B and C used as accents or in specific size variations.

The project requires two pairs of needles in different sizes to accommodate the tension and stitch patterns. 3¼mm (US size 3) needles are used for the ribbed edging sections on the back, sleeves, and neckband, where the smaller needle size creates the necessary elasticity. 4mm (US size 6) needles are used for the main body and sleeve fabric worked in stockinette stitch. The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using the 4mm needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished garment measurements.

Pattern Construction Overview

The sweater is constructed using a classic set-in raglan sleeve method. The back panel is worked first, beginning with ribbed edging on smaller needles, then transitioning to stockinette stitch on larger needles. The front follows a similar construction with the addition of front neck shaping that occurs during the raglan armhole decreases. Sleeves are worked separately, also beginning with ribbing and continuing in stockinette with increases to add width. The raglan shaping