PDF template create loop with variable values

Hello,

I have struggled with an issue when creating a <#list> tag.
I like to make a loop that runs some many times what item.quantity field says.
If i set variable as number 3 (below) it works.
This works :

<#list record.item as item>
  <#assign itemQty = 3>
    <#list 1..itemQty as x>
    <#assign rowNum = rowNum +1>

i can't set the value from the item.quantity field.


<#list record.item as item>
<#assign itemQty = ${item.quantity?number}
    <#list 1..itemQty as x>
    <#assign rowNum = rowNum +1>

With this code i'm just having the error that expecting a number.