Swans Island Artist Tee Jumper Knitting Pattern

Swans Island Artist Tee

What is Being Made

The Swans Island Artist Tee is an advanced-level knit pullover designed as a refined everyday t-shirt with feminine tailoring. This pretty pullover features a fitted silhouette achieved through princess seam shaping and a clean turned-under hem. The garment showcases delicate lace detailing on the front neckline with an arc of pointelle, complemented by a single line of pointelle continuing around the back neck. Simple set-in cap sleeves complete the polished aesthetic. Available in sizes 2XS through 2XL, with finished bust circumferences ranging from 28½ inches to 50¾ inches and lengths from 20 inches to 25 inches, the Artist Tee is intended to be worn with 1–2 inches of positive ease in the upper torso for comfortable, flattering wear.

Techniques Used

This pullover employs multiple construction techniques to achieve its sophisticated finish. The garment is worked flat on straight needles for most sections, then worked in the round for other components, allowing for efficient shaping and seamless integration of design elements. The bottom-up construction method means knitting begins at the hem and progresses toward the shoulders and neckline. Seaming is used to join pieces together, creating the princess seams that provide structured shaping for a fitted, feminine silhouette. The lace technique features prominently in the pointelle details adorning the front neckline and back neck, adding visual interest and delicate texture to the design.

Stitches Used

The Artist Tee employs fundamental knitting stitches combined with lace techniques. The primary fabric is worked in stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic knit surface. Shaping is accomplished using standard decrease stitches including k2tog (knit two together) and ssk (slip, slip, knit), which decrease one stitch at a time. Increases are worked using m1L (make one left) and m1R (make one right) techniques, which create new stitches from the horizontal strands between existing stitches. The pointelle lace sections incorporate yarn overs and decreases to create the decorative openwork pattern. Additional fundamental stitches include knit, purl, and slip stitches, which are abbreviated as k, p, and sl respectively. The pattern also uses ssp (slip, slip, purl), a left-leaning purl decrease, for refined shaping.

Materials and Gauge

The Artist Tee is knit with Swans Island Pure Blends yarn in a fingering weight, which consists of 85% Organic Merino Wool and 15% Alpaca. This luxurious fiber blend is soft enough to wear next to the skin, making it ideal for a spring and beyond-season garment. The yarn is available in 100-gram skeins with 525 yards per skein. The pattern shown features the color Seasmoke (YF121). Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 2 skeins for the smallest size (2XS) to 4 skeins for the largest size (2XL).

The recommended gauge is 7½ stitches by 10 rows per 1 inch in stockinette stitch when working on the larger needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished dimensions and fit. The pattern calls for US size 2 (3 mm) and US size 3 (3.25 mm) circular needles, specifically one 32-inch circular needle in size 2, and both 16-inch and 32-inch circular needles in size 3, or whatever sizes are needed to obtain the specified gauge. Additional notions include stitch markers—four of one color for darts, one of a second color for the side seam, and one of a third color for marking the beginning of rounds—as well as a stitch holder or waste yarn and a yarn needle for finishing.

Pattern Design and Skill Level

The Swans Island Artist Tee is rated as an advanced knitting pattern, indicating it is best suited for experienced knitters familiar with intermediate to advanced techniques. The pattern was designed by Amy Herzog, a renowned knitwear designer known for creating garments with refined shaping and elegant details. The combination of princess seams, pointelle lace work, set-in cap sleeves, and multiple construction methods—