Rowan Beau Crew & V Neck Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Beau Crew Neck & V Neck Sweaters

What is Being Made

The Rowan Beau collection features two classic knitted sweater designs: a crew neck version and a v neck version. Both are constructed as fitted pullovers in pure cashmere, offering refined elegance in a luxury fiber. The garments are available in five size options, ranging from bust measurements of 81-86 cm (32-34 inches) through to 122-127 cm (48-50 inches), with corresponding finished bust measurements of 90 cm to 130 cm. The crew neck sweater is photographed in Potash 099, while the v neck sweater is shown in College Red 097.

Construction Method and Techniques

Both sweaters are worked using a bottom-up, seamed, and flat knitting approach. This traditional construction method means the garment pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, then seamed together at the sides and shoulders. The flat-working technique allows for precise shaping and control throughout the garment, particularly in the armhole and neckline decreases.

The front and back pieces are worked separately with deliberate shaping. The back is completed first, with armhole decreases worked over multiple rows and alternate rows depending on size. The front pieces follow the same armhole shaping but include additional neck shaping that begins 18 to 22 rows before the shoulder shaping on the back, creating the characteristic neckline depth. Decreases are worked consistently at both edges using the same method established in the pattern, ensuring balanced and symmetrical shaping throughout.

Shoulders are shaped using a cast-off method, with stitches bound off in stages at the beginning of right-side rows. The neckband is worked separately using stitches held on a holder from the center front and back neck edges, a common technique for achieving a neat, finished neckline.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches and techniques suitable for a luxury fiber garment:

• Knit stitch (K) forms the primary fabric structure
• Decreases are worked at armholes and necklines to shape the garment, with specific decrease sequences repeated across multiple rows and alternate rows depending on size
• Cast-off (bind-off) is used to secure stitches and shape the shoulders in stages
• Stitch holders are used to preserve stitches for later work, particularly for the neckband and center front stitches

The pattern requires careful attention to shaping sequences, as different sizes have varying numbers of decrease rows and alternate rows, necessitating close pattern reading for accurate construction.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Rowan Beau sweaters are knitted in Pure Cashmere, a luxury natural fiber known for its softness, warmth, and drape. The crew neck version requires 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 x 50gm balls depending on size, while the v neck version requires the same yardage allocation. This premium yarn choice elevates the finished garment to luxury status.

The pattern calls for two pairs of needles in different sizes to create the appropriate fabric tension and structure:

• 3¼mm (US 3) needles (size 10) for ribbed sections
• 3¾mm (US 5) needles (size 9) for the main garment body

The working tension is specified as 22 stitches over a 10 cm (4 inch) swatch, with tension varying by size from 18 stitches per 10 cm in the smallest size to 29 stitches per 10 cm in the largest size. Achieving the correct tension is essential for proper fit and garment proportions in cashmere, as the fiber's natural elasticity and drape can be affected by tension variations.

This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF from Rowan Yarns, designed by Lisa Richardson and published as ZB277-00001-UK.