Gandy Jumper in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK - RM007-00015-DEP - Downloadable PDF

Gandy Jumper in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK – Pattern Summary (RM007-00015-DEP)

The Gandy Jumper is a collection of three classic pullover designs created by Quail Studio for Rowan, each worked in the luxuriously soft Rowan Alpaca Soft DK yarn. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated intermediate in difficulty. All three versions share the same fundamental construction but differ in their neckline treatment, making this a versatile pattern that suits a range of personal styles and occasions.

The Three Gandy Jumper Designs

1. Gandy Jumper with Round Neck

The first design is a classic crew-neck pullover, photographed in Trench Coat 202. It features a neat, rounded neckline that is a timeless choice for everyday knitwear. The round neck is finished with a tidy neckband, and the garment is constructed in separate pieces — back, front, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. This version requires 11 balls of Rowan Alpaca Soft DK across the smaller sizes, rising to 14 balls for the largest size.

2. Gandy Jumper with Roll Neck

The second variation features a roll neck collar, photographed in Classic Brown 204. The roll neck adds a cosy, relaxed dimension to the silhouette, making it particularly well-suited to cooler weather. Like the round-neck version, it is constructed in separate flat pieces and seamed. Yarn requirements range from 11 to 14 balls of Rowan Alpaca Soft DK depending on size.

3. Gandy Jumper with V-Neck

The third design offers a V-neck neckline, also photographed in Trench Coat 202. The V-neck shaping requires careful decreasing on both sides of the front neck to achieve the characteristic angled opening. This version uses a slightly longer circular needle for finishing the neckband. Yarn quantities range from 10 to 13 balls of Rowan Alpaca Soft DK across the size range.

Construction and Techniques

All three Gandy Jumper designs are knitted flat in separate pieces — a back, a front, and two sleeves — which are then joined by seaming. This traditional construction method gives knitters full control over tension and shaping, and is well-suited to intermediate-level knitters who are comfortable working from a written pattern with multiple shaping instructions.

Key construction techniques used across all three versions include:

• Ribbed welts and cuffs – The lower body and sleeve cuffs are worked in a rib stitch, providing elasticity and a neat, fitted edge. The ribbing is worked for approximately 16 cm before transitioning to the main stitch pattern.
• Shoulder shaping – Shoulders are shaped using cast-off decreases worked at the beginning of right-side and wrong-side rows, creating a clean, angled shoulder line. Stitches are cast off in groups across multiple rows.
• Front neck shaping – For the round and roll neck versions, the front neckline is shaped by dividing the work at the centre front, placing stitches on a holder, and working each side separately with decreases at the neck edge over several rows. For the V-neck version, shaping begins lower and is worked more gradually over a greater number of rows.
• Sleeve shaping – Sleeves are worked from the cuff upward with paired increases on each side, worked at regular intervals to create the characteristic tapered sleeve shape. The frequency of increase rows varies by size to achieve the correct sleeve width.
• Neckband finishing – The neckband is picked up and worked in the round using a circular needle, with the round-neck and roll-neck versions using a needle up to 40 cm long, and the V-neck version requiring a longer 60 cm circular needle to accommodate the greater number of picked-up stitches.

Stitches Used

• Rib stitch – Used for all welts, cuffs, and neckbands, providing stretch and structure