Glacier Sweater Jumper Knitting Pattern

Glacier Sweater in Rowan Kid Classic

What is Being Made

The Glacier Sweater is a knitted pullover garment designed to fit chest measurements ranging from 71–76 cm up to 152–157 cm, making it available in nine different sizes. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a finished garment with actual chest measurements from 91 cm to 170.5 cm, offering generous ease for comfortable wear. The sweater is constructed using a traditional set-in sleeve construction method with shaping at the shoulders and back neck.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques to create visual interest and structure. Cable knitting forms the primary decorative element, with the design incorporating a main body cable panel measuring 60 stitches, paired with left and right side cable panels of 16 stitches each. These cable panels are repeated across the body according to size, creating a coordinated pattern throughout the garment. The pattern uses reverse stockinette stitch as the background fabric, which provides a smooth, recessed surface that allows the raised cable motifs to stand out prominently. Shoulder shaping is achieved through strategic cast-offs and decreases, while back neck shaping involves working each side of the neck separately after dividing stitches, with decreases worked at the neck edge to create a fitted neckline.

Stitches Used

• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St St): The primary fabric stitch, measured at 19 stitches and 25 rows over 10 cm using 5mm needles. This stitch creates the smooth background upon which cable patterns are displayed.
• Cable Stitches: Multiple cable panels worked across the body, with the main body panel spanning 60 stitches and side panels each containing 16 stitches. Cable rows are worked following a 12-row repeat pattern throughout the garment length.
• Knit and Purl Stitches: Used in combination to create the cable texture and structure, with specific row-by-row instructions provided for establishing and maintaining the cable pattern.
• Decrease Stitches: Pattern 2 together (Patt 2tog) decreases are used for shaping at the neck edges and shoulders.
• Cast-off Stitches: Used to bind off stitches at the shoulders and to finish the garment edges.

Materials

The Glacier Sweater is knitted using Rowan Kid Classic yarn, a 50-gram ball weight yarn. The pattern requires 8 to 15 balls depending on the chosen size, with the sample photographed in the colorway Pumice 888. Two sizes of needles are required: 4.5mm (US 7) needles for ribbing and initial stitches, and 5mm (US 8) needles for the main body fabric where the tension is measured. Additionally, 4.5mm (US 7) circular needles measuring 40 cm are needed for the neckband. The pattern specifies that chart stitches 1–92 should measure 34 cm wide once blocked, providing guidance for achieving proper finished dimensions.