Pattern for the red Miss Lemon Jumper

I've decided to post the pattern I used for the red Miss Lemon jumper, as I've noticed that I'm far from the only fan out there who'd love to knit it.

The pattern is sized for a 38-ish bust, but the jumper is very elastic.

Materials: Drops Alpaca Silk baby yarn, 1 skein blue and white, 9 skeins red.; 1 pair each 2mm and 2.5mm knitting needles; buttons.

Measurements: Width all round at underarm, 35in.; length from top of shoulder to hem, 22in.; length of sleeve seam underarm, l7in.

Tension: To get this tension it is absolutely necessary to work at a tension to produce 8.1 sts. to one inch in width measured over pattern. 11 rows to 1 inch. The fabric is very elastic.

Back:

Using 2mm needles cast on 122 sts. Knit in ribbing of k1, p1 until work measures 3 inches, ending on the wrong side of work (28 rows).

Change to 2.5mm needles

Row 1: k1, inc 1, k15*inc 1, k15* . Repeat pattern until end of the row. You should now have 130 sts, which gives a width of 16 inches underarm.

Continue in main stitch:

1^st row.- K. 1, p. 1

2^nd row.- knit

Repeat these two rows throughout.

Armhole:

When work measures 12 inches Cast off 6 sts. at beg. of next 2 rows, knit 2 together each end of needle in the next row. Then knit the last 2 stitches of every following row together until 104 sts. rem (12 rows).

Neck Shaping:
When armhole measures 7 inches shape the rounded neck by casting off the middle 20 sts. Work on one side only now. Cast off 3 stitches at the neck edge in every other row twice. Knit 2 together at the same edge in every other row 3 times.

Then shape the shoulder by doing short rows. Knit from the neck edge towards the shoulder until there are 10 stitches left on the needle, turn and knit until end of row (this takes you back to the neck edge). Turn and knit until there are 20 sts left on needle, turn and knit until end of row. Turn and cast off all stitches.

Join the wool in on the other side of the neck and complete this shoulder in the same manner as the one just finished.

Front:

Cast on 145 sts (makes for 19 inch width after increases), increase to 154 sts and knit until work measures 12 inches.

Front Armhole:

When work measures 12 inches Cast off 10 sts. at beg. of next 2 rows, knit 2 together each end of needle in the next 5 rows. Then knit the last 2 stitches of every following row together until 104 sts. rem (20 rows).

When armhole measures 6 3/4 inches shape round neck by casting off the middle 20 sts. Work on one side only now. Cast off 3 stitches at the neck edge in every other row twice. Knit 2 together at the same edge in every other row 3 times, turn an knit next row. Knit 3 more rows. Shape the shoulder by knitting until there are 11 stitches left on the armhole edge, turn and knit until end of row. Knit until there are 22 sts left on the armhole edge, turn and until end of row. Turn and cast off all stitches.

Join the wool in on the other side of the neck and complete this shoulder in the same manner as the one just finished.

SLEEVES (Both Alike)

Using 2mm needles cast on 68 sts. Work in rib of k 1, p 1, for 3ins, working 1st row into back of sts.). Change to 2.5mm needles and increase 1 stitch at each end of the needle in every fifth row until there are 90 stitches (11 times).

After welt knit *6 rows (aim for a little less than 1 inch), 2 blue, 6 rows red, 2 white, 6 rows red*. Repeat 2 more times.

Knit until the sleeve measures 18 inches at the underarm seam.

Shape the top of the sleeve by knitting 2 st together at the beginning of every row until there are 30 stitches left. Cast off.

Make another sleeve to match

Bows:

With 2.5mm needles cast on 40 stitches loosely for both bows.

Large bow:

K 7 rows white, 2 rows red, 6 rows white, 2 rows blue, 6 rows white, 2 rows red, 6 rows white, 2 rows blue, 24 rows white, 2 rows blue, 6 rows white, 2 rows red, 6 rows white, 2 rows blue, 6 rows white, 2 rows red, 7 rows white.

Small bow:

7 rows white, 2 rows blue, 6 rows white, 2 rows red, 6 rows white, 2 rows blue, 24 rows white, 2 rows blue, 6 rows white, 2 rows red, 6 rows white, 2 rows blue, 7 rows white

Centre front band:

With 2.5mm needles cast on 18 stitches (should be 2 inches wide), knit in k1 p1 rib.

The finished band should reach the top of the ribbing at the waist. To check the length of the band gather the bows at front, and pin the band in place. Allow the jumper to hang a for a while, as the band most likely will sag a little. Once you're sure you've reached the right length graft the band to the top of the ribbing. Stitch on buttons, and tack front band to jumper at regular intervals.

TO MAKE UP

Press pieces with a moist cloth and iron set to silk. Take care not to apply pressure on the pieces, just touch the iron gently to the cloth for a second or two, lift and reposition the iron, repeat. The idea is to get steam into the fabric. Leave pieces to dry completely.

Sew up shoulder, side, and sleeve seams, sew in sleeves, placing seam to seam. Make edging for neck. Stitch on centre front band.

Block the bows by moistening them and pinning them into shape, leave to dry.

I reinforced the shoulder seams by sewing on cotton tape along the seams, and I also reinforced the centre front behind the bows. If I were to knit this jumper again I’d make the welt longer, some 5 inches and I’d use another stitch. Probably something like k5, p1. I’d also shorten the armscye.