Skipper Jumper in Rowan Brushed Fleece - RTP004-0001-DEP - Downloadable PDF

Skipper Jumper in Rowan Brushed Fleece by Martin Storey – Pattern Summary

The Skipper Jumper is a classic, cosy knitted sweater designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan. Available as a downloadable PDF (reference RTP004-0001-DEP), this pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and working multiple pattern pieces. The jumper is photographed in Crag 253 and Ross 283, two colourways of Rowan's signature yarn, giving a clear visual reference for the finished garment's aesthetic.

What Is Being Made

The Skipper is a raglan-yoke pullover jumper worked in separate pieces — a back, a front, and sleeves — that are then seamed together. The raglan construction is a timeless design choice: instead of a traditional set-in sleeve or drop shoulder, the sleeves and body are joined diagonally from the underarm to the neckline, creating a smooth, structured shoulder line that suits a wide range of body shapes. The finished garment has a crew or round neckline with neckline shaping worked on both the front and the sleeves.

The pattern is sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements, from 71–76 cm up to 152–157 cm, with corresponding knitted chest measurements ranging from approximately 90 cm to 172 cm. This generous size range makes the Skipper an inclusive pattern suitable for many different body types.

Construction and Techniques

The Skipper Jumper is constructed using a flat knitting method, meaning each piece — back, front, and sleeves — is worked back and forth in rows on straight needles and then seamed. Key construction techniques used throughout the pattern include:

• Raglan armhole and sleeve shaping — decreases are worked at regular intervals along the raglan lines to shape the yoke, a defining structural feature of the garment.
• Neck shaping — the front neckline is shaped by working each side separately after dividing stitches, with stitches placed on a holder (Hilfsnadel) while the first side is completed, then picked up for the second side. This creates a neat, symmetrical neckline.
• Decreasing techniques — the pattern uses k2tog (zwei Maschen rechts zusammenstricken) and single stitch decreases at armhole and neckline edges to achieve clean, directional shaping.
• Casting off at the neckline — stitches are bound off at the beginning of rows to shape the front neck opening.
• Stitch markers — the pattern calls for the use of Maschenmarkierer (Mm), or stitch markers, to help track raglan shaping positions accurately.
• Sleeve shaping — sleeves are worked with increases along the sides to shape the sleeve from cuff to underarm, then raglan decreases are worked to taper toward the neckline.

Stitches Used

The Skipper Jumper uses a combination of two main stitch patterns:

• 2x2 Rib (2 M re, 2 M li) — worked on the smaller needles at the cast-on edges of the back, front, and sleeves. This elastic ribbing creates neat, structured cuffs and a body hem that hugs the body comfortably and prevents the edges from curling. Ribbing is a foundational knitting technique that adds both function and a polished finish to knitwear.
• Main stitch pattern (Muster / Mst) — the body and sleeves above the rib are worked in a main stitch pattern (abbreviated Mst in the German-language instructions). This is the primary texture of the jumper, worked on the larger needles. The exact stitch pattern creates the characteristic fabric of the Skipper, and the tension/gauge is specified as 14 stitches and 23 rows to 10 x 10 cm using this stitch on size 6 mm needles.

Materials