Rowan Heston Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Heston Knitted Sweater by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Heston is a knitted sweater designed by Martin Storey, available in six sizes to fit chest measurements from 81-86 cm up to 132-137 cm. The finished garment chest measurements range from 92 cm to 143 cm, offering a comfortable fit across multiple body sizes. This is a classic pullover-style sweater suitable for various skill levels.

Construction Method

The Heston sweater is constructed using a bottom-up, worked-flat approach, meaning the pieces are knitted separately from the lower edge upward and then seamed together. This traditional construction method allows for easier fitting adjustments during the knitting process and provides a structured, professional finish to the completed garment.

Techniques and Stitches

This design features cable knit techniques as a primary decorative element. The pattern includes cable abbreviations such as C6B (cable 6 back), which involves slipping stitches onto a cable needle and leaving them at the back of work to create the characteristic twisted, rope-like texture that defines cable knit sweaters. The pattern is worked from charts, with rows 11 to 46 repeating throughout the body of the garment, creating a consistent, intricate patterned design.

The sweater construction involves seaming the individual pieces together after they are knitted. Shaping techniques include strategic cast-offs at regular intervals to create shoulder shaping and neck shaping, with decreases worked at neck edges to form a comfortable neckline. The pattern requires working each side of the neck separately to achieve proper shaping and symmetry.

Materials and Tools

The Heston is knitted using Rowan Hemp Tweed yarn, a durable blend suitable for structured garments. Depending on the size selected, the project requires between 16 and 27 x 50-gram balls of yarn. The photographed version is shown in the colorway Almond 141.

Two pairs of needles are required for this project:

• 1 pair of 4mm (US 6) needles
• 1 pair of 4.5mm (US 7) needles

A cable needle is also essential for working the cable stitches throughout the pattern.

Gauge and Tension

The pattern is designed to achieve a tension of 30 stitches and 27.5 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over the patterned fabric using the 4.5mm (US 7) needles. Achieving the correct tension is critical for ensuring the finished sweater fits to the intended measurements.

Pattern Structure

The back and front pieces are worked separately with detailed shaping instructions. The back piece is worked straight until it reaches the specified length (ranging from 62 to 72 cm depending on size), then shoulder shaping and back neck shaping are worked by casting off groups of stitches at regular intervals. The front piece follows a similar construction but includes additional neck shaping that begins earlier in the pattern, with decreases worked over multiple rows to create a gradual, professional-looking neckline.