Summer Jimmy Jab

Summer Jimmy Jab is a staple summer knit – a top down, seamless, size inclusive tee, with a customisable fit.

It’s based on a classic circular yoke, but with plenty of optional adjustments to make it work for every body. There’s an optional full bust adjustment to add 2in or 4in width to the front of the top, plus an optional short row bust dart to add length and stop the front riding up.

The colourwork detail is easier than it looks, with only one colour used on every round. The combination of this detailing around the yoke and the twisted rib detailing at the neckline and hems give the tee a neat finish, and elevate it above the basic.

Key information: 

The Summer Jimmy Jab jumper is knitted top-down, in the round. It uses 4ply yarn for a lightweight fabric. The back neck is raised with German Short Rows for a comfy fit, and increases are worked in the top stocking stitch part of the yoke, so you don’t need to worry about increasing and working pattern at the same time.

Once the yoke increases are completed, there’s the option to work a bust adjustment – adding 4in/10cm to the width of the front – before the colourwork section begins. After that, the sleeves are placed on hold, and you have the option to work short row bust darts to add length to the front of the top and ensure the bottom hem sits properly.

Finally, the body is completed, before short sleeves are worked and finished off with twisted rib edging.

The Summer Jimmy Jab comes in 9 sizes, with a finished chest circumference of 29 -63in / 72.5 – 157.5 cm (without the optional bust adjustment). You’ll need to make sure you’re following the right instructions for your size. Where numbers vary, they’re written as 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) 6, 7, 8, 9.

Suggested yarn: 

The sample is knitted in CaMaRose Organic Summer Wool (70% organic merino wool, 30% organic cotton, 230m/251yds per 50g) in the colour Pudder, with Riverknits Chimera (100% Bluefaced Leicester, 195m/213yds per 50g) in the colour Succulents as the contrast.

The pattern will work for any 4ply yarn that meets gauge, but I’d be wary of using a pure cotton yarn as the top will stretch with wear and lose shape. If you want to use a cotton yarn, look for one that’s blended with some wool, as the wool will help maintain the shape and structure of the top.

Finished size and schematic: 

The Summer Jimmy Jab is designed to fit with 0-2in/0-5cm of positive ease for a classic tshirt fit. Please see the schematic and size table in the photos for full details.

The dimensions shown in the table are the measurements of the finished garment – with the exception of the upper bust measurement, which is an actual body measurement.

To get the best fit, take your upper bust measurement, and pick the size that is the closest match to this actual body measurement. If you have a full bust, you may find that this size is smaller than you’d usually knit; if so, then you can work the optional bust adjustment to get a better all-over fit than you’d achieve from knitting a larger size.

Yarn requirements: 

Size 1: MC 420m / 460yds - CC 70m / 76yds 

Size 2: MC 485m / 530yds - CC 77m / 84yds 

Size 3: MC 550m / 605yds - CC 84m / 92yds 

Size 4: MC 650m / 715yds - CC 107m / 118yds 

Size 5: MC 745m / 815yds - CC 121m / 135yds 

Size 6: MC 830m / 910yds - CC 132m / 145yds 

Size 7: MC 980m / 1075yds - CC 167m / 182yds 

Size 8: MC 1070m / 1170yds - CC 179m / 196yds 

Size 9: MC 1175m / 1285yds - CC 193m / 212yds

Suggested needles (and notions):

• 3.5mm (US 4), 3.75mm (US 5), and 4mm (US 6) long circular needles
• double pointed needles in the same sizes, or long circular for magic loop
• 5 stitch markers
• tapestry needle

Gauge: 23 sts and 31 rows to 10cm (4in) over stocking stitch, knit in the round using 3.75mm needles, AND over colourwork using 4mm needles. (Your row gauge will be smaller over the colourwork, but this is accounted for in the pattern.)