Rowan Vidar Jumper Knitting Pattern

Rowan Vidar Knitted Sweater by Arne & Carlos

What Is Being Made

The Rowan Vidar is a knitted sweater designed by the renowned knitwear design duo Arne & Carlos. This garment is constructed as a classic pullover jumper available in six sizes, ranging from 81–86 cm (32–34 inches) to 132–137 cm (52–54 inches) chest measurement. The finished sweater features a structured silhouette with shaped armholes, a defined back neck shaping, and tailored shoulders, making it a sophisticated layering piece suitable for various occasions.

Techniques Used

The Vidar sweater employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its polished construction:

• Bottom-up construction: The sweater is worked from the lower edge upward, allowing for straightforward sizing adjustments and progressive shaping.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, with seaming used to join the finished components together.
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces are carefully seamed together to create the final garment, providing clean, professional finishing.
• Intarsia: The pattern incorporates intarsia colorwork, a technique where different colored yarns are used to create motifs or patterns within the fabric without carrying unused yarn across the back.
• Shaping techniques: Strategic decreasing at armholes and neck edges, combined with cast-off sequences at shoulders, creates a well-fitted garment with proper garment architecture.

Stitches Used

The Vidar sweater is primarily constructed using stockinette stitch (st st), the foundational stitch for most sweater knitting. Stockinette stitch creates a smooth, flat fabric with characteristic V-shaped columns on the right side and bumpy texture on the wrong side. The pattern specifies working in stockinette stitch for the main body sections, with the intarsia colorwork integrated within this stitch structure. Decreasing stitches at strategic points (such as knit two together) shapes the armholes and neckline, while cast-off sequences secure the shoulder seams and edges.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Rowan Vidar pattern calls for a carefully curated blend of premium yarns that work together to create the finished fabric:

• Rowan Felted Tweed (FTwd) in Clay: The primary yarn used in quantities ranging from 7 to 11 x 50g balls depending on size. This yarn provides the base structure and body of the sweater.
• Rowan Kidsilk Haze (KSH) in Depth: Used in 1–2 x 25g balls across the size range, adding delicate texture and sheen.
• Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Turkish Plum: 1 x 25g ball per size, contributing to the intarsia colorwork elements.
• Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Golden Poppy: 1 x 25g ball per size, another color component in the intarsia design.
• Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Ruby: 1 x 25g ball per size, completing the color palette for the intarsia motifs.

The combination of Felted Tweed and Kidsilk Haze creates a sophisticated fabric with subtle texture variation and a refined appearance. Felted Tweed provides structure and durability, while Kidsilk Haze adds a luxurious, delicate quality.

Needles required: The pattern uses two needle sizes. A 3¼mm (US 3) needle is used for ribbed or edge sections, while a 4mm (US 6) needle is used for the main stockinette stitch body. This needle size differential creates a tighter, more elastic edge that frames the sweater professionally.

Pattern Construction Details

The sweater body is worked flat in stockinette stitch for approximately 112–120 rows (measuring roughly 43.5–46 cm in length) before armhole shaping begins. Armhole shaping involves casting off 3–6 stitches at the beginning of two rows, followed by decreasing one stitch at each end for five rows, then continuing decreases on alternating rows. This graduated shaping technique creates smooth, curved armholes that fit comfortably against the body. The armhole depth measures approximately 18.5–26 cm depending on size. Back