Rowan Swale Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Swale Knitted Sweater by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Swale is a knitted sweater designed by Martin Storey, available in five sizes ranging from Small (to fit bust 81-86 cm) through to XXL (to fit bust 122-127 cm). This is a classic pullover-style jumper constructed using a bottom-up seamed method, worked flat on straight needles before assembly.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques to create its distinctive design:

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is knitted starting from the lower edges and worked upward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments during the knitting process
• Cable work: Decorative cable stitches are incorporated throughout, creating textured vertical lines and visual interest across the garment
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces (back, front, and sleeves) are knitted separately on flat needles, then seamed together at the end for a polished, structured finish
• Raglan shaping: The armholes are shaped using raglan decreases, which create diagonal seam lines from the underarm to the neckline for a comfortable, fitted silhouette
• Neck shaping: The neckline is carefully shaped through strategic decreases worked on both sides simultaneously, creating a neat, finished edge

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with cable techniques:

• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch base providing a smooth, classic fabric
• Cable stitches: Specifically C6B (cable 6 back) and C6F (cable 6 front), created by slipping stitches onto a cable needle, holding them at the back or front of work, then knitting across to create twisted rope-like textures
• Decreases: K2tog (knit two together) decreases are used extensively for shaping at the raglan armholes, neckline, and side seams
• Purl stitches: Used selectively, particularly in shaping rows on the wrong side

Materials Required

The Rowan Swale pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended drape and texture:

• Yarn: Rowan Brushed Fleece in the photographed colorway Cove 251, with yardage requirements varying by size from 11 x 50gm balls (Small) to 16 x 50gm balls (XXL)
• Needles: One pair of 6mm (US 10) needles for main fabric work, and one pair of 5mm (US 8) needles for ribbed edgings. A 5mm circular needle, 60 cm long, is also required
• Additional tools: A cable needle for manipulating cable stitches during construction

Tension and Finishing Details

The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 19 rows to 10 cm measured over pattern using 6mm needles. This tension measurement is essential for achieving the correct finished garment dimensions. The sweater features carefully planned decreases for raglan armhole shaping and neck shaping, with variations in the number of decrease rows depending on the size being knitted, ensuring proper fit across the full size range.