Rowan Raspy Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Raspy Knitted Sweater by Kim Hargreaves

What is Being Made

Raspy is a women's knitted sweater designed by Kim Hargreaves for Rowan. This garment is available in five sizes ranging from XS to XL, with finished bust measurements of 81 to 102 cm (32 to 40 inches). The sweater features a classic pullover construction with raglan armholes and is worked primarily in stockinette stitch, creating a smooth, refined fabric suitable for everyday wear.

Construction Techniques

This sweater is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed, and worked-flat approach. The back and front pieces are knitted separately on straight needles before being assembled. The pattern begins with casting on stitches and working the body pieces with strategic shaping:

• Side seam decreases and increases are worked symmetrically at each end of rows to create the garment's silhouette
• Marked stitches using yarn forward (yfwd) are incorporated as design elements or shaping guides
• Raglan armhole shaping is achieved through successive cast-off rows and decreases worked two stitches in from the row ends
• The pattern includes provisions for yarn shrinkage, particularly in length, which occurs when denim yarn is first washed

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The sweater primarily utilizes fundamental knitting stitches and techniques:

• Stockinette stitch forms the main fabric, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side
• Knit stitches (K) and purl stitches form the basis of the construction
• Knit two together (K2tog) decreases are used for shaping side seams and raglan armholes
• Knit two together through the back loop (K2tog tbl) creates a left-leaning decrease
• Make one (M1) increases add stitches for the garment's expanding sections
• Yarn forward (yfwd) creates decorative eyelet details or marked stitch positions throughout the design
• Cast off techniques secure stitches at the armhole openings

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Raspy is designed to be knitted with Rowan Original Denim yarn, a specialty denim-weight yarn that creates authentic denim fabric through knitting. The pattern requires 11 to 14 balls of 50-gram skeins depending on the chosen size. The yarn photographed in the pattern is shown in the colorway Memphis 229, though Rowan's current yarn range offers additional color options available at knitrowan.com.

Two pairs of needles are required for this project:

• 3.75mm (US 5) needles for the initial cast-on and ribbing sections
• 4mm (US 6) needles for the main body fabric in stockinette stitch

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 28 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using 4mm (US 6) needles before washing. This gauge measurement is critical for achieving the correct finished garment dimensions. Since Rowan Original Denim yarn shrinks in length when washed for the first time, the pattern includes allowances for this shrinkage, and knitters should refer to the size diagram for accurate after-washing measurements before beginning their project.