Striped Breton Jumper

Striped Breton Jumper by Sian Brown

What is Being Made

The Striped Breton Jumper is a classic pullover sweater designed by Sian Brown, featuring traditional Breton-style horizontal stripes in a navy and cream colorway. This knitting pattern is available in eight sizes, ranging from 81cm to 117cm bust measurements (32 to 46 inches), making it suitable for a wide range of body types. The finished jumper has a length to shoulder of 60 to 67cm (23¾ to 26½ inches) and consistent sleeve length of 49cm (19¼ inches) across all sizes.

Techniques Used

This beginner-level knitting pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques accessible to those new to the craft. The construction begins with casting on stitches and uses increases strategically placed across specific sizes to achieve proper fit. The pattern incorporates ribbed edging at the cuffs and hem, which provides elasticity and structure. Striping is achieved through color changes between the Navy and Cream yarns, creating the characteristic Breton aesthetic. The pattern uses a straightforward stockinette stitch as the primary fabric structure, combined with ribbed sections for definition and stretch.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k): The fundamental stitch forming the primary fabric
• Purl (p): Used in combination with knit stitches to create ribbed texture
• Ribbing: A 2x2 rib pattern (k2, p2) forms the elastic edging at the back hem and cuffs, worked over 8 rows total
• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The main fabric created by alternating knit and purl rows
• Make 1 (m1): Increases used selectively on certain sizes to adjust stitch counts after ribbing

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Striped Breton Jumper is knitted using Debbie Bliss Cotton DK yarn, a lightweight double knitting weight yarn ideal for creating garments with drape and breathability. The pattern requires 9 to 13 balls of 50g in each color depending on the chosen size, with Navy (shade 18) and Cream (shade 02) providing the classic Breton stripe combination. The total yardage varies by size to accommodate the range of finished measurements.

Three sizes of knitting needles are required: 3.25mm (US 3), 3.75mm (US 5), and 4mm (US 6). The smaller needles are used for the ribbed sections to create a snug, elastic edge, while the largest needles are used for the main stockinette fabric. Working tension is 20 stitches and 28 rows to 10cm (4 inches) over stockinette stitch using the 4mm needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Pattern Construction Details

The pattern begins with the back piece, cast on using the 3.75mm needles in Navy yarn. After a single knit row, the yarn changes to Cream for the ribbed section. The 2x2 ribbing is worked for 8 rows total, with strategic increases added on the final row for certain sizes (3rd, 5th, and 6th sizes receive 2 additional stitches). The stitch count after ribbing ranges from 90 to 126 stitches depending on size. Following the ribbed edging, the needles are changed to 4mm and stockinette stitch begins, creating the main body fabric where the Breton stripes would be established through color changes.