Want to learn how to make my best selling knitted product- the Joan jumper?
These notes, machine knitting pattern and videos give you everything you need to machine knit your own beautiful cosy and modern roll neck jumper. You will need a ribber for this workshop & it is suitable for intermediate level knitters. I would recommend completing my beginner, ribber and crew neck workshops (or equivalent) before starting with this one.
A double bed pattern for standard gauge knitting machine and ribber, Joan is a minimal, oversized and boxy jumper made from luxurious lambswool from Z.Hinchcliffe & Sons from Uppingham Yarns. The roll neck is knit as part of the front and back panels and it is the ultimate cosy flattering jumper. This pattern is a great way to practice making full garments with the ribber, using very simple shaping and is easily adapted for size. The fabric is made from 1x1 rib and English rib and is washed after construction to bring the full softness/slightly felt the wool. The sleeves are shaped with simple fully fashioning.
This workshop is slightly different to my others on offer, in that there is no zoom recording of a live workshop included. All demo videos have commentary and the extensive notes (34 pages) include instructions, tips and advice for adjusting the size as well as the pattern (the pattern is one size for the body & has two sizes for the sleeves). This jumper fits from size 8-18 (measurements below) depending on how you like the fit.
This pattern is for private use only. This pattern is not allowed to be copied, shared or sold. Pieces made with this pattern are not allowed to be sold. This pattern is the intellectual property of Amber Hards Knitwear.
My products are designed to be beautiful, practical and to do what they’re supposed to. I take the utmost care over every piece and always want to be sure the products work for people and are designed and made to be the best they can be and are created to last. I put so much into making sure the details and quality of the products are just right and am proud of the work that goes into designing, developing and making every piece.
This jumper is the ultimate cosy luxury, in a really flattering shape that suits all shapes and sizes. It can be made reversible with different colours which allows you to put your own stamp on it.
Seeing someone wearing and loving something you’ve created and made from a cone of yarn is a genuinely wonderful feeling. These pieces are made to last, to become heirlooms.
The workshop includes individual demo videos, with demonstrations of all the techniques you will need, and how to knit and finish the garment.
It does not include a zoom recording of a workshop (as in my other online workshops). This workshop was first presented as a Masterclass for the Machine Knitting Community. If you would like to take the original masterclass (which includes all of the above plus four hour long live recorded workshops) and have access to the membership for two months you can find that for £75 here.
The 34 page notes include the following:
An introduction to the jumper and what you will need to knit it.
Instructions and practice for the rib stitches used, plating and transferring stitches from the ribber bed to the main bed.
Tension squares and how to measure English rib
An order of work
The pattern, shape and how to amend the jumper to the size you want.
The pattern and shape of the sleeves.
How to increase simply with the ribber.
Order of assembling which can be done with a linker, machine or by hand.
Finishing details
Trouble shooting & tips for avoiding problems.
I've designed this jumper to be as simple and quick as possible to knit. Because I was making these as products to sell, I've honed in on the quickest ways to knit it to save time so that I wouldn't need to charge an outrageous amount of money for them.
I would say you need to be above beginner level to knit this jumper, knitting a whole garment on the ribber can be daunting so having some experience beforehand would be beneficial. My ribber workshop is the perfect place to start, and elements from the crew neck jumper workshop like "knit maths" and construction methods will also be helpful.
I knit and teach on a Brother KH890 & ribber KR850. Almost all of the techniques are transferable to most Brother machines, knitmaster & silver reed. You will need a ribber attachment to knit this stitch. Instructions and set ups for other brands of machines are slightly different, but often very similar. Please refer to your model’s manual when casting on, knitting 1x1 rib and English rib. The notes have instructions for these stitches for the Brother, and one model of Silver Reed.
I initally knit this product as one size, which fit a range of sizes beteween 8-18. I (pictured pink Joan) was a size 14-16 in this photograph. The brown fudge colour was modelled on a size 8 and the mixed greys on a size 10.
The pattern has one size, which is very flattering. And it is very easy to amend so that you can make it wider/narrower/shorter/longer. The construction is mainly rectangles which makes it extremely easy to amend.
Meaurements for the finished jumper are approximately:
58cm from start of roll neck to end of arm.
56cm from shoulder to bottom hem
70cm side seam to side seam
75cm circumference around neck
Try measuring a favourite jumper of yours (remember it is a drop sleeve) and comparing the measurments.
Yes, this jumper can be made with alternative yarns. If you want a similar finish then you will need a lambswool that felts when washed. The fabric holds itself well so if you want to use something more drapey then you may need to reinforce the shoulder and neck seams.
The yarn for this pattern is Lambswool Yarn, 2/17Nm (2-ply).
100% high quality Lambswool spun in the UK by Z.Hinchliffe & Sons at Denby Dale, Yorkshire.
You can buy it here: https://wools.co.uk/lambswool-yarn
It uses two ends (or strands) at the same time so you will need to either buy two cones or wind some off. More information about how much to buy is included in the notes.
You will need to do a tension swatch and your own knit maths if you are using a completely different yarn.
Joan is knit from the bottom up in two identical front and back panels, with simple shaping for the neck. The drop sleeves are fairly fitted using simple increases and attached after everything is knit. This pattern is could be completed in 2- 3 hours.
Please check the main FAQ page here for any other questions.
If there is something you are still unsure of then please email the address below.
I am currently on maternity leave from May 2024, if you have a question please feel free to email me, but it may be some time before I am able to get back to you. Thank you for your patience.
studio@amberhards.co.uk
Practising the stitches and useful information
Knitting the front and back panels
Knitting the sleeves
Construction and finishing