Gandy Jumper in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK - RM007-00017-DEP - Downloadable PDF

Gandy Jumper in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK – Pattern Summary (RM007-00017-DEP)

The Gandy Jumper is a collection of classic, elegantly structured pullovers designed by Quail Studio and published by Rowan. Worked in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK, this downloadable PDF pattern presents three distinct neckline variations of the same foundational sweater silhouette, making it a versatile addition to any intermediate knitter's project library. Each version shares the same construction approach and yarn, differing primarily in the neckline shaping and finishing details.

The Three Garment Designs

1. Gandy Jumper with Round Neckline

The first variation is a classic crew-neck pullover, photographed in Trench Coat 202, one of the colourways available in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK. This version features a clean, rounded neckline finish that suits a wide range of styling options, from casual to smart-casual wear. The round neck shaping is achieved through carefully structured decreases at the front neckline, with stitches held on a spare needle while each side is completed separately. A neat neckband is typically worked in the round to finish the collar opening.

• Yarn quantities: 11 balls for smaller sizes, up to 14 balls for larger sizes of Rowan Alpaca Soft DK (50 g balls)
• Colourway shown: Trench Coat 202

2. Gandy Jumper with Roll Neck

The second variation introduces a roll neck collar, photographed in Classic Brown 204. The roll neck adds warmth and a relaxed, contemporary feel to the otherwise structured silhouette. Like the round-neck version, the body and sleeve construction remain consistent, with the neckline treatment providing the key design distinction. The roll collar is typically worked in ribbing and left unfolded or allowed to roll naturally at the top of the neckline.

• Yarn quantities: 11 to 14 balls depending on size
• Colourway shown: Classic Brown 204

3. Gandy Jumper with V-Neckline

The third variation features a V-neck shaping, also photographed in Trench Coat 202. The V-neck version requires a longer circular needle (up to 60 cm) for working the neckband, compared to the 40 cm circular needle used for the other two versions. The V-neckline is shaped through gradual decreases on both sides of the front, creating an elegant, elongating effect at the neckline. This version uses slightly fewer balls of yarn across the size range.

• Yarn quantities: 10 to 13 balls depending on size
• Colourway shown: Trench Coat 202

Construction and Techniques

All three versions of the Gandy Jumper are worked flat in separate pieces — back, front, and two sleeves — and then seamed together. This is a traditional construction method well suited to intermediate knitters who are comfortable with reading multi-size patterns, working increases and decreases, and finishing seams neatly.

Key Techniques Used

• Flat knitting worked back and forth in rows on straight needles
• Ribbing for the welts, cuffs, and neckbands, worked as specified in the pattern
• Stitch pattern (Mst) forming the main fabric of the body and sleeves, beginning from Row 1 of the stitch chart
• Shoulder shaping using cast-off rows worked at the beginning of right-side and wrong-side rows to create a neat, angled shoulder line
• Front neckline shaping using decreases over multiple rows, with stitches placed on a holder and both sides completed separately
• Sleeve shaping using paired increases worked at regular intervals along the sleeve sides, with the frequency of increases varying by size
• Working in the round on a circular needle