Forbes Sweater In Rowan Kid Classic Jumper Knitting Pattern

Forbes Sweater In Rowan Kid Classic

What Is Being Made

The Forbes Sweater is a knitted pullover sweater designed to fit chest measurements ranging from 71-76 cm (28-30 inches) up to 152-157 cm (60-62 inches), making it suitable for multiple sizes from children through adults. This is a classic crew-neck sweater with set-in sleeves and structured shaping at the shoulders and neckline.

Craft and Technique Overview

This is a knitting project classified as beginner level, making it an excellent choice for those new to sweater construction. The sweater is worked primarily in stocking stitch, the most fundamental knit fabric, which creates a smooth, classic appearance. The pattern requires understanding basic shaping techniques including cast-offs, decreases at the neckline, and shoulder shaping through strategic cast-offs.

Stitches and Shaping Techniques Used

• Stocking stitch – the primary stitch throughout the garment, created by alternating knit and purl rows to form the characteristic V-pattern fabric
• Cast-on and cast-off – foundational techniques for beginning and finishing edges
• Decreases at the neckline – worked over multiple rows to gradually shape the front neck opening, with decreases occurring on alternating rows and fourth rows depending on size
• Shoulder shaping – accomplished through cast-offs at the beginning of rows to create angled shoulder seams
• Stitch holders – used to hold live stitches for the back neck and front neck during construction, allowing these sections to be worked separately and later grafted or bound off

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Forbes Sweater is knitted using Rowan Kid Classic yarn, a soft and lightweight option. The pattern specifies holding 2 strands of yarn together throughout construction, which doubles the yarn weight and creates a thicker, more substantial fabric from the fingering-weight base yarn.

Yarn quantity varies by size, ranging from 13 balls (for the smallest size) to 18 balls (for the largest size) of the 50-gram balls of Rowan Kid Classic. The photographed version is shown in the colorway Feather 828.

Needles required:

• 1 pair of 7mm (US 10.5/11) needles – used as the main needles for the majority of the sweater when holding 2 strands together
• 1 pair of 6mm (US 10) needles – used for the initial cast-on and ribbing sections when holding 2 strands together

Additional supplies include stitch holders to manage the neckline shaping during construction.

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 15 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch using 7mm needles while holding 2 strands of yarn together. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for the sweater to fit properly across the range of nine available sizes.