Dartmoor Jumper Knitting Pattern

Dartmoor Knitted Sweater by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

Dartmoor is a knitted sweater designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. This pullover-style jumper is available in nine sizes, ranging from 71-76 cm (28-30 inches) to 152-157 cm (60-62 inches) chest circumference, making it suitable for a wide range of body sizes. The finished garment chest measurements span from 106.5 cm to 186 cm, providing generous fit options across the size range.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

Dartmoor employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques that create visual interest and texture throughout the garment. The sweater features cable work, incorporating a cable stitch abbreviation (C6B) that requires slipping stitches onto a cable needle and crossing them over the working yarn for dimensional surface texture. The pattern is worked from a chart, which guides stitch placement and pattern repeats across the front, back, and sleeves.

The garment is constructed in separate pieces—back, front, and sleeves—which are then joined together. The neckline shaping is worked by dividing the front stitches and working each side of the neck separately, allowing for precise shaping around the shoulders and neckline. A neckband is added using stitches held on a stitch holder at the center front, creating a finished edge. The shoulder shaping involves strategic cast-offs worked across multiple rows, with decreases at the neck edge worked simultaneously to create a smooth transition from shoulder to neck.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is worked over a charted design, combining knit and purl stitches to create the textured pattern. Cable stitches (specifically C6B—a six-stitch cable crossing) are featured as a special abbreviation, adding dimensional interest to the design. The pattern also incorporates decreasing techniques at the neck and shoulder edges to shape the garment, with single-stitch decreases worked at specific intervals to create smooth, tapered lines. Cast-off stitches are used to bind off shoulder and neckline edges, and stitch holders are employed to temporarily hold stitches for the neckband.

Materials and Tools

Dartmoor is designed to be worked in Rowan Tweed Haze yarn, a 50-gram weight yarn photographed in the colorway Winter 550. The pattern requires two sizes of needles: 5mm (US 8) needles and 6mm (US 10) needles. A 5mm circular needle no longer than 40 cm is needed for the neckband, and a cable needle is essential for working the cable stitches throughout the design.

Gauge and Tension

The pattern is worked to a tension of 16 stitches and 21 rows to 10 centimeters, measured over the charted pattern using the 6mm (US 10) needles. Achieving correct tension is essential for the garment to fit properly across all nine sizes.

Skill Level

Dartmoor is rated as an intermediate-level knitting project, suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle cable work, chart reading, and shaping techniques. The combination of cable stitches, pattern work from a chart, and multi-piece construction with detailed shaping makes this an engaging project for developing knitters.