Maker's Tunic

Plaid skirts. Linen dresses. A-line tunics and a stray needle pinning up your hair:

we're makers, and it shows.

This hip-length pullover is designed to layer with the pieces you reach for daily. The one that makes you feel like yourself. Relaxed wear, an impeccable fit, and the kind of bespoke details that pull an outfit together.

This sweater features an A-line silhouette, optional bust shaping, and has more ease in the front than the back. An homage to quilt jackets, you'll find a fun running stitch embellishment and enclosed trim, creating a deeply heirloom piece.

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CONSTRUCTION

Maker's Tunic is worked in pieces from the bottom up and seamed using dropped set-in sleeve construction. Stitches are picked up for the collar, cuffs and hems, which feature an enclosed edge and a sewn tubular bind-off. There is A-line shaping from the hem to the bust.

OPTIONAL BUST SHAPING

Optional instructions for adding short rows for bust shaping, in two sizes, give you your best fit.

"I found this pattern quite easy to follow and knit – it was my first time making a seamed garment, but I didn’t find it at all intimidating! The textured pattern is easy to memorize and adds so much depth and interest to the finished product – it also keeps the knitting interesting along the way!

I think of my Maker’s Tunic as an elevated basic: I knit it in a neutral color, so it goes with everything. Leaving off the embellishment makes a bit less casual, so it works equally well with work pants/trousers in the office as it does with jeans/casual pants out and about! It’s super versatile, but not at all plain. It has personality and detail that elevate it and make it stand out in my wardrobe. In short: I love it!"

- Carly

"This was my first time knitting one of Jen's patterns but it will not be the last. Her thoughtfulness for fit and detail is unmatched and while the actual knitting for this sweater was relatively simple, the end product is polished, professional, and a beautiful fit. The extra information for choosing a size and adjusting to fit your own body is worth the price of the pattern and what you learn from Jen will be applicable to your wider knitting experience as well."

- Gillian

CHOOSE A SIZE

1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8] (9, 10, 11, 12)

Choose the size closest to your actual upper chest measurement. Upper chest is measured above the full bust, at an angle close to diagonal beneath the underarms, and straight across the back. For more information on choosing a size using your upper chest measurement, visit this blog post.

To fit upper chest: 28 (32.75, 36, 39.25, 42.5) [45.75, 49, 52.25] (55.5, 58.75, 62, 65.25) inches / 70 (81.5, 89.5, 98, 106) [114, 122, 130.5] (138.5, 146.5, 154.5, 163) cm

Maker’s Tunic is designed to fit with approximately 4 inches / 10 cm of positive ease at the fullest part of your bust.

Finished full bust: 31.75 (36.5, 39.75, 44, 48.25) [52, 55.75, 59.75] (63.75, 68, 71.75, 76) inches / 79.5 (91.5, 99.5, 110.5, 121) [130.5, 139.5, 149] (159.5, 170.5, 179.5, 190.5) cm

Finished hip: 38 (41, 43.75, 49.5, 52.25) [58, 60.75, 63.5] (69.25, 74.75, 74.75, 80.5) inches / 95.5 (102.5, 109.5, 123.5, 130.5) [144.5, 152, 159] (173, 187, 187, 201) cm

Pullover is 0 (1, 0.5, 1, 1.25) [1.5, 1.25, 2.5] (2.75, 2.5, 3.25, 3.75) inch(es) / 0 (2.5, 1, 2.5, 3.5) [3.5, 4, 5.5] (7, 5.5, 8, 9.5) cm wider in the front than the back.

Finished upper arm (measured at the seam): 12.25 (13, 14, 15, 16) [17.25, 18.75, 20.25] (22, 22.5, 23.5, 24.5) inches / 30.5 (33, 35, 37.5, 40) [43.5, 47, 50.5] (55, 56.5, 58.5, 61) cm

To assess your bicep fit, measure around your arm where the seam will be. The seam is 2.5 (2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5) [4, 4.25, 4.5] (4.5, 4.75, 5, 5.25) inches / 6.5 (7, 7.5, 8, 8.5) [10, 10.5, 11] (11.5, 12, 12.5, 13) cm over the point of your shoulder bone.

Sample is shown in size 5, Cup 1, with 3.5 inches / 9 cm positive ease at the full bust and 2.5” / 6.5 cm of positive ease at the shoulder seam. My upper chest is 41 inches.

If you need additional room for the bust, as I do, working the optional short row shaping will give you the best fit in the shoulders and armholes, while still making room for your chest. Short rows add length to the front only of the garment, so that the hem does not rise in the front.

Schematic & Sizing Guidance

TECHNIQUES

Working directional increases and decreases
Working a sloped bind-off (optional)
Picking up and working stitches
Seaming
Working German Short Rows (optional)
Sewing a tubular Bind-off
Knitting in the round

Knitters will be most comfortable working this pattern if they can read their knitting.

MATERIALS

Removable stitch markers, one unique stitch marker.
Tapestry needle

GAUGE

17 sts and 24 rows over 4 inches / 10 cm in Quilt Stitch with size A needles

17 sts and 27 rows over 4 inches / 10 cm in stockinette st.

YARN

Depth, dimension, detail - all the pleasures of a quilt jacket in a timeless knit.

Ritual Dyes Elder

MAIN COLOR

100% Rambouillet wool; 190 yds / 270 m per 100 g skein. This is a squishy, bouncy worsted weight wool with fantastic stitch definition and a slightly thick and thin quality. It knits warm, low-drape fabric with moderate density.

915 (990, 1090, 1175, 1250) [1345, 1425, 1510] (1595, 1715, 1765, 1855) yds / 835 (905, 1000, 1075, 1145) [1230, 1305, 1380] (1460, 1570, 1615, 1695) m; 5 (5, 6, 6, 7) [7, 7, 8] (8, 9, 9, 9) skeins.

For Cup 1, add 20 (25, 25, 30, 30) [35, 35, 40] (40, 45, 45, 50) yds / 20 (25, 25, 25, 30) [30, 35, 35] (35, 40, 40, 45) m.

For Cup 2, add 45 (50, 55, 60, 65) [70, 70, 75] (80, 85, 90, 95) yds / 40 (45, 50, 55, 60) [60, 65, 70] (75, 80, 85, 90) m.

Shown in colorway Chestnut.

CONTRASTING COLOR

For the optional running stitch embellishment, you will need 11 yds / 10 m fingering weight yarn in a contrasting color. Sample shown in Ritual Dyes Maven in colorway Dune. This is a slubby, 2 ply 100% Rambouillet yarn.

"The Maker's Tunic is yet another masterpiece from Jen. It's also incredibly easy. I spent a lot of time binge watching Dynasty while knitting this, and I could progress through a couple rows / half a sleeve in my 2/3 episode binges. It was very gratifying, and the quilt pattern is SO addictive that I couldn't put it down. It's the perfect "I made this!" garment to brag about, too!"

- Bi

"Who this is for: Knitters who want to elevate their wardrobe and create garments and learn new techniques that will make your clothes work FOR you. Knitters who want to take lessons learned from this sweater and apply them to future projects to help make the fit much more custom to your body. Who this isn't for: Knitters who hate purling, knitting flat, & seaming. Also, for people who want a basic "simple knit". This is 1000% not that. It's a delight to knit but requires some concentration and isn't mindless knitting."

- Kyle

"The information on selecting sizing is very helpful and also educational. I truly feel like through this test knit I have a better understanding of fit and assessing patterns accordingly to see if the fit is best for me, with some new ideas how to modify if I'd like.

I have heard others state (similarly to me) that seaming was something they avoided or were overwhelmed by, however I now can see that this bias is unfounded and I am happy I've tackled this awesome garment!

- Kelli