Rowan Hank Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Hank Knitted Sweater by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Hank is a knitted sweater designed by Martin Storey, available in six size options to fit chest measurements ranging from 81-86 cm (32-34 inches) through to 132-137 cm (52-54 inches). The finished garment chest measurements span from 95.5 cm (37½ inches) to 142.5 cm (56 inches), providing a comfortable fit across multiple body sizes. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a classic pullover sweater with shaped shoulders, a structured back neck, and a front neck opening for styling versatility.

Techniques Used

This sweater employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques. The construction involves casting off stitches in sequence to shape the shoulder caps and armholes, creating a tailored fit. Neck shaping is achieved through strategic decreases worked at the neck edge over multiple rows, with the front neck requiring more gradual decreasing than the back. The pattern uses separate side shaping, with each side of the neck worked independently after dividing stitches, allowing for precise symmetrical shaping. Cable techniques are incorporated into the design, requiring the use of a cable needle to create textured pattern sections throughout the garment.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure is garter stitch (abbreviated as g st), which forms the main fabric of the sweater and is measured at a tension of 22 stitches and 40 rows to 10 centimeters. Cable patterns are featured as a secondary stitch element, worked at a different tension of 29 stitches and 36 rows to 10 centimeters. The cable abbreviations specified include C4B (cable 4 back: slip the next stitch onto a cable needle and hold at the back of work, knit 3 stitches, then knit 1 stitch from the cable needle) and C4F (cable 4 front: slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the front of work, then knit the next stitch before knitting the stitches from the cable needle). These cable crossings create raised, twisted texture that adds visual interest and dimension to the finished sweater.

Materials

This pattern is knitted using Rowan Softyak DK yarn, a double-knitting weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition for both garter stitch and cable work. Yarn quantities range from 13 x 50-gram balls for the smallest size to 21 x 50-gram balls for the largest size, allowing crafters to select the appropriate yardage for their chosen size. The photographed sample is shown in the colorway Albany 255. Two needle sizes are required: 3¼mm (UK size 10 / US size 3) needles for ribbed sections and initial cast-on work, and 4mm (UK size 8 / US size 6) needles for the main fabric. A cable needle is essential for executing the cable pattern elements throughout the sweater.