Rowan Big Red Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Big Red Knitted Sweater

What Is Being Made

Big Red is a contemporary knitted sweater designed by Josh Bennett. This pullover-style jumper features bold cable detailing and is available in three size ranges: S/M, L/XL, and XXL, fitting bust measurements from 81–127 cm (32–50 inches). The design showcases striking texture through strategic cable placement and decorative yarn-wrapping techniques that create visual interest across the garment.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several advanced knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance:

• Cables (Cr6K): Six-stitch cable crosses are the signature stitch element, repeated throughout the pattern to create dimensional texture. The cable abbreviation Cr6K indicates slipping 6 stitches in a specific sequence to form the twisted effect.
• Worked in the Round: The sweater is primarily constructed using circular needles, allowing the knitter to work continuously in rounds rather than turning the work back and forth. This seamless construction method creates a more uniform fabric and reduces finishing seams.
• Worked Flat (Seamed): Certain sections may be worked flat on straight needles and subsequently seamed together, providing construction flexibility.
• Yarn Wrapping: Multiple rounds incorporate wrapping yarn around the needle twice for each stitch, creating elongated stitches that add visual texture and drape to the fabric.
• Increases: The pattern uses increases worked by knitting into the front and back of stitches to expand stitch counts strategically, building the garment from a narrow cast-on to full width.

Stitches Used

The pattern combines fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Stockinette Stitch (St St): The base fabric, measured at 10 stitches and 13 rows to 10 cm using doubled yarn on 10mm needles.
• Cable Stitch (Cr6K): Six-stitch cables repeated across rounds to form the primary textural pattern, measured at 12 stitches and 10 rows to 10 cm.
• Garter Stitch: Knit rounds create garter texture in sections, particularly in the initial cast-on rounds.
• Elongated Stitches: Created by wrapping yarn around the needle twice, these stitches are dropped or worked through in subsequent rounds to form decorative texture.

Materials and Equipment

Yarn: The pattern calls for Rowan Cocoon yarn in a doubled configuration (working with two strands simultaneously). Yardage requirements vary by size: 20 x 100gm balls for S/M, 22 x 100gm balls for L/XL, and 26 x 100gm balls for XXL. The photographed sample uses Quarry Tile 818 colorway. Doubling the yarn creates a thicker, more substantial fabric suitable for the cable and texture work.

Needles and Hooks: The pattern specifies multiple needle sizes to accommodate different sections and techniques:

• One pair of 9mm (US 13) needles for ribbing or edge work
• One pair of 10mm (US 15) needles for main fabric sections worked flat
• Two 10mm (US 15) circular needles, each at least 80 cm long, for working the body in the round
• One 9mm (US M13) crochet hook for finishing details

Notions and Trims: The sweater is completed with a kilt pin (one piece) and crin trim in an appropriate color, measuring 180–220 cm long and 8 cm wide depending on size. Appropriately colored sewing thread is required for attaching the trim and any seaming.

Pattern Structure and Gauge

Tension is critical for this design. The pattern specifies 10 stitches and 13 rows to 10 cm measured over stockinette stitch, and 12 stitches and 10 rows to 10 cm measured over the cable pattern, both using 10mm needles with doubled yarn. Achieving proper gauge ensures the sweater fits correctly and the cables display with appropriate definition.

The construction begins with a small cast-on of 12 stitches distributed across two circular needles, then increases dramatically over the first several rounds to reach working width. A six-round