Harthill Jumper Knitting Pattern

Harthill Knitted Sweater by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

Harthill is an advanced-level knitted sweater designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan. This garment is worked from the yoke downwards, featuring a fitted construction with decorative cable and mock cable pattern panels. The sweater is available in four sizes to fit chest measurements of 71-86 cm (28-34 in), 91-112 cm (36-44 in), 117-137 cm (46-54 in), and 142-157 cm (56-62 in), with corresponding finished chest measurements of 108 cm (42½ in), 135 cm (53¼ in), 162 cm (63¾ in), and 189 cm (74½ in).

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several advanced knitting techniques suitable for experienced crafters. The garment is constructed using top-down yoke shaping, a method where knitting begins at the neckline and increases are worked downwards to create the body. The pattern incorporates circular knitting using both shorter and longer circular needles to accommodate the increasing number of stitches as the garment expands from the yoke.

Cable work is a central design element, featuring mock cables and cable panels that create textured visual interest. The pattern demonstrates increases worked within pattern, where new stitches are strategically added while maintaining the integrity of the stitch pattern. Techniques include yarn forward increases (yfwd) for decorative eyelet effects and make one increases (M1), both knit-wise and purl-wise, to shape the garment seamlessly.

The yoke construction requires careful stitch pattern alignment, with the pattern instructions specifying that after the increase panel is completed, the centre stitches should be worked as a pattern panel beginning with round 1, demonstrating the precision required for this advanced design.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches form the foundation of the fabric
• Cable 3 together (C3tog) – a special abbreviation where two stitches are slipped onto a cable needle and held at the back of work while one stitch is knitted, creating the characteristic twisted cable effect
• Make one (M1) – increases worked both knit-wise and purl-wise (M1P) to add stitches while maintaining pattern continuity
• Yarn forward (yfwd) – creates decorative eyelet holes and contributes to the lacy elements of the pattern panels
• Purl increases (inc purlwise) – specialized increases that maintain the purl texture in specific areas

Materials and Equipment

The Harthill sweater is knitted using Rowan Kid Classic yarn in 50-gram balls, photographed in the colourway Peppermint 918. Yarn quantities vary by size, ranging from 7 balls for the smallest size to 13 balls for the largest size.

Needles required include 4½mm (US 7) circular needles in two lengths: one shorter needle no more than 40 cm long for working the yoke, and a second longer needle measuring at least 90 cm [110 cm, 130 cm, or 150 cm depending on size] for accommodating the body stitches as the garment expands. Additionally, a cable needle is essential for working the C3tog cable stitches throughout the pattern.

The pattern specifies a tension of 18½ stitches and 27 rounds to 10 cm measured over the pattern using 4½mm (US 7) needles, making tension measurement critical for achieving the correct finished garment dimensions.