Bessie Sweater in Rowan Felted Tweed DK (DE) - Downloadable PDF

Bessie Sweater in Rowan Felted Tweed DK (DE) – Pattern Summary

The Bessie Sweater is a classic knitted pullover designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan. This pattern is written in German and is available as a downloadable PDF, making it ideal for German-speaking knitters looking for a well-crafted, timeless sweater design. Rated as intermediate in difficulty, the Bessie Sweater offers a satisfying project for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and working separate garment sections.

What Is Being Made

The Bessie Sweater is a fitted pullover jumper worked in separate pieces — a back, a front, and sleeves — that are then seamed together. The design features a shaped neckline, with the front neckline worked differently from the back, creating a classic and flattering silhouette. The garment is sized to fit a wide range of body measurements, making it a versatile pattern suitable for many knitters.

Sizing

The pattern includes nine sizes, designed to fit the following bust measurements:

• 71–76 cm
• 81–86 cm
• 91–97 cm
• 102–107 cm
• 112–117 cm
• 122–127 cm
• 132–137 cm
• 142–147 cm
• 152–157 cm

The corresponding actual knitted bust measurements range from 110 cm to 190 cm, indicating a generous amount of ease across the size range. This inclusive sizing makes the Bessie Sweater accessible to a broad range of knitters and body types.

Construction and Techniques

The Bessie Sweater is constructed using a traditional flat knitting method, with the back and front pieces worked separately and then joined. Key construction techniques include:

• Back and front shaping: The back and front are worked largely the same, with the front diverging for the neckline shaping at a specific row count before the back neckline begins.
• Front neckline shaping: The front neckline is shaped by dividing the work at a central point, placing stitches on a holder, and working each side separately. Decreases are worked over the following four rows to create a smooth, tapered neckline edge.
• Back neckline shaping: The back neck is shaped by placing a set number of central stitches on a holder — 55 (57: 57: 59: 59: 61: 61: 61: 61) stitches depending on size — and working each shoulder separately to complete the shaping.
• Stitch holders: Stitches are regularly placed on holders throughout the construction, particularly at the neckline, which is a hallmark of classic sweater construction.
• Picking up held stitches: After working one side of the neckline or shoulder, held stitches are picked up and worked with a new length of yarn, ensuring symmetrical shaping on both sides.
• Seaming: As a flat-knit garment, the finished pieces are sewn together, requiring basic finishing and seaming skills.

Stitches Used

The pattern references a main stitch pattern (Muster/Mst) used throughout both the back and front of the garment. While the specific stitch pattern is referenced in the German abbreviation Mst (Musterstich), the construction rows are described in terms of Hinreihen (right-side rows) and Rückreihen (wrong-side rows), confirming the sweater is worked flat in rows. Techniques such as decreasing (Maschen abnehmen) are used to shape the neckline and other areas of the garment. The combination of a defined stitch pattern with classic shaping techniques gives the Bessie Sweater its structured, polished appearance.

Yarn and Materials