Rowan Slouch Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Slouch Knitted Sweater by Kim Hargreaves

What is Being Made

The Rowan Slouch is a knitted sweater designed by Kim Hargreaves, available in five sizes ranging from XS to XL to fit bust measurements of 81 cm to 102 cm (32 to 40 inches). This garment features a relaxed, slouchy silhouette characteristic of contemporary knitwear design.

Knitting Techniques

This sweater is constructed using bottom-up seamed construction, meaning the back and front pieces are knitted separately from the cast-on edge upward, then joined together with seams. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional shaping and finishing techniques.

The pattern incorporates several key shaping techniques including ribbed edging at the hem and neckline, armhole shaping, and neck shaping with decreases worked at specific intervals. The front and back pieces feature different rib depths—the back rib is longer than the front rib—though the stocking stitch sections above the ribbing are equal in length, contributing to the slouchy aesthetic.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure is stocking stitch (stockinette stitch), which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric. The lower edges of both back and front pieces feature ribbed knit, specifically a K3, P2 rib pattern worked over multiple rows. This ribbing provides elasticity and structure at the hem and helps define the neckline.

Materials and Specifications

The sweater is knitted using Rowan Orginal Denim yarn, a specialty yarn designed to create authentic denim-like fabric. The pattern requires 17 to 21 balls of 50-gram yarn depending on size selection. The yarn is photographed in the colorway Memphis 229, though other colors from the Rowan range may be substituted.

Two needle sizes are required: 3¾mm (US 5) needles for the ribbed sections and 4mm (US 6) needles for the main stocking stitch fabric. The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 28 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stocking stitch using the 4mm needles.

Finishing and Special Considerations

An important characteristic of this denim yarn pattern is that the yarn will shrink in length when washed for the first time. The pattern includes built-in allowances for this shrinkage, and finished measurements are provided after washing to ensure proper fit. An optional finishing technique includes the use of bleach to create a splash effect, allowing for customization of the final appearance. This denim sweater represents a specialized knitting project that combines traditional construction methods with modern yarn innovation.