Rowan Nordea Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Nordea Knitted Sweater by Martin Storey

What Is Being Made

The Rowan Nordea is a classic knitted sweater designed by Martin Storey. This garment is a pullover-style jumper available in five size options, ranging from bust measurements of 81-86 cm (32-34 inches) through to 122-127 cm (48-50 inches). The sweater is constructed with a traditional fitted silhouette, featuring shaped armholes and tailored shoulder shaping for a refined finish.

Construction Technique

The Nordea sweater is worked using a bottom-up seamed construction, meaning the pieces are knitted separately from the cast-on edge upward, then joined together using seaming. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for greater control over shaping and fit. This traditional approach provides excellent stitch definition and allows for precise armhole and shoulder shaping.

Knitting Stitches and Shaping Details

The primary stitch used throughout the Nordea is stockinette stitch (stocking stitch), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with characteristic V-shaped columns. The pattern incorporates several sophisticated shaping techniques:

• Armhole shaping: Accomplished through cast-off stitches at the beginning of rows followed by decreases worked as knit two together through the back loop (K2tog tbl) on knit rows and purl two together (P2tog) on purl rows, creating neat, angled armhole edges
• Shoulder shaping: Step decreases at the shoulder are created through strategic cast-offs across multiple rows, allowing the garment to sit properly on the shoulders
• Neck shaping: The front neckline features decreases worked in the same manner as armhole decreases, creating a smooth curve
• Waist definition: The garment is fitted through careful row gauge and stitch counts that taper from the cast-on edge through the body

Materials and Gauge

The Nordea is designed to be knitted using Rowan Alpaca Soft DK yarn, a delicate double knitting weight that provides a soft, luxurious drape. The pattern requires 10 to 14 balls of 50-gram yarn depending on the size selected. The photographed version is shown in the colorway Rainy Day 210.

Two needle sizes are required: 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the cast-on and ribbed sections, and 4mm (US 6) needles for the main body. A 3¼mm circular needle no longer than 40 cm is also needed for working the neckline. The pattern is worked to a tension of 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using the 4mm needles, making accurate gauge measurement essential for proper fit.

Pattern Details

The back and front pieces are worked separately with mirror-image shaping. The front features a deeper neckline than the back, with the front worked to 22 to 26 fewer rows before shoulder shaping begins, depending on size. All pieces are seamed together after completion. The pattern includes detailed instructions for working armhole and neck decreases in a consistent manner throughout, ensuring a professional finish.