Zoo Slipover in Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply - D79 - Downloadable PDF

Zoo Slipover in Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply by Martin Storey – Pattern Summary

The Zoo Slipover is a charming knitted baby garment designed by Martin Storey for Rowan, worked in Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply. This sleeveless pullover — commonly known as a slipover or vest — is sized for babies from 0–3 months up to 12–18 months, covering chest sizes of 41 cm to 56 cm (16–22 inches). The design's standout feature is an intarsia elephant motif placed centrally on the front, making it an endearing and playful piece ideal for a baby's wardrobe. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and simple colourwork techniques.

What Is Being Made

The finished item is a baby slipover — a sleeveless knitted top worked in the round and flat sections. It features a ribbed lower band, a stocking stitch body, and a decorative elephant chart motif on the front. The back and front are shaped with armhole decreases and finished with neat shoulder seams and a cast-off back neck. The garment is designed to be a lightweight, comfortable layer suitable for warmer months, in keeping with the breezy character of the Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply yarn range.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically for Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply, a lightweight 4 ply weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. Three colours are used, referred to in the pattern as Yarn A, Yarn B, and Yarn C:

• Yarn A – the main colour, required in 2 balls for sizes 0–3, 3–6, and 6–12 months, and 3 balls for the 12–18 month size
• Yarn B – a contrast colour used for the cast-on ribbing, requiring 1 ball across all sizes
• Yarn C – a further contrast colour used within the elephant chart motif, requiring 1 ball across all sizes

The total yarn requirement is modest, making this an excellent project for using small quantities from a stash of Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply.

Needles and Notions

• 1 pair of 2¾ mm (UK no. 12 / US 2) straight needles – used for the ribbed welts
• 1 pair of 3 mm (UK no. 11 / US 2/3) straight needles – used for the main stocking stitch body
• 1 x 2¾ mm (UK no. 12 / US 2) circular needle – used for picking up and working the neckband or armhole edgings
• 1 yarn holder – for holding stitches during neck shaping

Tension

The stated tension is 28 stitches and 36 rows to 10 cm, measured over stocking stitch using 3 mm (US 2/3) needles. Achieving the correct tension is particularly important in a baby garment where sizing accuracy is critical for a comfortable fit.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Zoo Slipover draws on a range of classic knitting stitches and construction techniques:

• 2×2 Rib (K2, P2 rib) – worked at the lower edge as a neat, stretchy welt. The rib begins with Yarn B to create a contrast coloured border before switching to Yarn A for the remainder of the ribbing rows. This adds a decorative detail to the hem without complex colourwork.
• Stocking Stitch (st st) – the primary fabric of both the back and front