Harpers Twin Set in Rowan Felted Tweed DK

Harpers Twin Set in Rowan Felted Tweed DK – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Harpers Twin Set is a free, downloadable knitting pattern designed by Meghan Lewis and published by Rowan (pattern reference ROWEB-01837). As the name suggests, this is a twin set — a coordinating pair consisting of a pullover sweater and a cardigan, both worked in the same yarn and colour palette so they can be worn together or separately. The pattern is rated intermediate in skill level, making it an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and simple textural stitch patterns but are ready to explore more structured garment construction.

About the Twin Set Design

Twin sets are a classic knitwear concept — a close-fitting or relaxed inner sweater paired with a matching or complementary open-front cardigan worn over the top. The Harpers Twin Set follows this tradition, offering a cohesive, layered look that works across a wide range of body sizes. Both garments share the same yarn, the same stitch vocabulary, and a two-colour scheme, giving the finished set a polished, coordinated appearance.

The pattern is available in five sizes, designed to fit bust measurements ranging from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) up to 122–127 cm (48–50 in), covering sizes Small through XXL. This generous size range makes the pattern accessible to a broad range of knitters.

The Sweater

Construction and Shaping

The sweater is worked in pieces — the instructions detail a back section that begins with a cast-on of 89 to 143 stitches depending on size, using 3¾mm (US 5) needles. After an initial textural border section, stitches are increased to create the full body width, ranging from 104 to 168 stitches across sizes. This increase row uses M1 (make one) increases evenly spaced across the row, a standard technique for smoothly adding width without visible holes.

Stitch Patterns — Bobble Pattern

The lower border of the sweater is worked in a bobble pattern, which provides a charming textural detail at the hem. This four-row repeating pattern is constructed as follows:

• Row 1 (RS): Knit across all stitches.
• Row 2: K1, then work knot 1, K1 alternately to the end of the row.
• Row 3: Knit across all stitches.
• Row 4: K2, then work knot 1, K1 alternately to the last stitch, K1.

The knot stitch (referred to in the pattern as knot 1) is a classic bobble-style embellishment. It typically involves working multiple times into a single stitch — often knitting into the front, back, and front again — and then passing the extra loops over to create a small raised knot on the fabric surface. This stitch adds a subtle, tactile quality to the hem border without overwhelming the overall design. The bobble pattern is worked for a total of 8 rows before transitioning into the main sweater body pattern.

Main Body Stitch Pattern

After the bobble border, the sweater transitions into what the pattern refers to as the sweater pattern, which is worked following the increase row. The body stitch pattern begins with a purl row on the wrong side, indicating a likely stocking stitch (stockinette) base or a combination of knit and purl textures that give the main fabric its character. The two-colour construction — using yarn colours A (Seafarer 170) and B (Frozen 185) — suggests that colourwork or stripe sequences are incorporated into the body of the sweater.

The Cardigan

The cardigan is the second garment in the twin set and shares the same yarn and colour scheme as the sweater. It is worked using the same 3¾mm (US 5) needles and the same Rowan Felted Tweed DK