Big Jimmy Jab by Jacki Badger

Big Jimmy Jab

Knitting
January 2022
DK (11 wpi) ?
20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches
in Stocking stitch, knit in the round
US 4 - 3.5 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
US 7 - 4.5 mm
629 - 1848 yards (575 - 1690 m)
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8, 9] - finished bust measurement of 34 (38, 42, 46, 50) [54, 58, 62, 66]in with 4-6in positive ease. Optional bust adjustment adds 4in.
English
This pattern is available for £7.00 GBP buy it now

Get 20% off all my Jimmy Jab patterns until the end of Monday 26 February - no code needed. To get an even bigger discount, sign up to my mailing list and you’ll receive a code for 35% off.

Get the Big Jimmy Jab jumper and its child-size counterpart the original Jimmy Jab jumper for just £8.75 (that’s more than 25% off). Discount automatically applied at checkout.

For help picking a size, check out my blog on just that topic

The circular-yoked Big Jimmy Jab jumper isn’t just size-inclusive – it’s large bust inclusive, with an optional bust adjustment to add 4in/10cm to the front width of the jumper - over only the bust. No more sagging shoulders, baggy waists, and rubbish fits.

And it’s simple to knit; the circular yoke gives the look of fancy colourwork, without any of the stress of stranded knitting. The Big Jimmy Jab Jumper is designed using mosaic knitting, so you’re only ever working with one colour per round. Which means no floats to worry about.

The pattern includes exactly how much yarn you’ll need for each coloured stripe, so it’s easy to customise with little scraps of favourite colours. Or, if you fancy going for a two-tone look, just use one colour for the provided total amount of contrast yarn. And with two length options included in the pattern, you can knit the jumper that’s just right for you.

The Big Jimmy Jab is knitted from the top down, and is totally seam free – making it super comfortable to wear, just like its miniature counterpart, the original Jimmy Jab jumper.

Key information
The Big Jimmy Jab jumper is knitted top-down, in the round. It uses DK weight yarn, so works up quickly and is nice and warm to wear. 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 the body worked to the hem, where you can choose a standard or high-low split hem. Then the sleeves are completed, working from the top down to the cuffs.

The Big Jimmy Jab comes in 9 sizes, with a finished chest circumference of 34 - 66in/85 - 165 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 red sample is knitted in DyeBath Merino Blend 250 (520m per 250g) in the colour Tom, with the colourwork knitted in Kremke In the Mood Surprise (125m per 50g) in the colour Curiosity.
The pink sample is West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft DK (225m per 100g) in the colour Maywick, with some handspun yarn as the contrast.

The pattern will work with most DK-weight yarns and is particularly good for using up scraps in the colourwork – just be sure to check that your gauge matches the one given in the pattern.

Yarn Requirements
Size Main colour - cropped Main colour – full length
1 575m / 630yds | 675m / 740yds
2 675m / 740yds | 790m / 865yds
3 735m / 805yds | 865m / 950yds
4 900m / 985yds | 1040m / 1140yds
5 1010m / 1105yds | 1160m / 1270yds
6 1070m / 1170yds | 1250m / 1370yds
7 1240m / 1360yds | 1425m / 1560yds
8 1390m / 1520yds | 1585m / 1735yds
9 1475m / 1615yds | 1690m / 1850yds

Contrast colour total ranges from 63m / 69yds to 200m / 219yds. The pattern gives a full breakdown of the amount required per stripe, per size.

Suggested needles (and notions):

  • 3.5mm (US 4), 4mm (US 6), and 4.5mm (US 7) long circular needles, double pointed needles, or long circular for magic loop

  • 5 stitch markers

  • tapestry needle