Carnation Sweater in Rowan Kidsilk Haze - Downloadable PDF

Carnation Sweater by Marie Wallin in Rowan Kidsilk Haze – Pattern Summary

The Carnation Sweater is a beautifully delicate knitted pullover designed by Marie Wallin and published by Rowan. This pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF and is suited to intermediate knitters who are comfortable working with fine yarn weights and more intricate stitch constructions. The design showcases the ethereal quality of Rowan Kidsilk Haze, a yarn renowned for its gossamer halo and luxurious drape, making the finished sweater a truly elegant wardrobe piece.

Sizing and Fit

The Carnation Sweater is offered 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. The back length varies by size, measuring between 60 cm and 68 cm, giving the sweater a comfortable, wearable length suitable for a range of body types. The generous size range makes this pattern accessible to a wide audience of knitters.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Kidsilk Haze, a lace-weight yarn celebrated for its blend of super kid mohair and silk. This combination produces a fabric with an incredibly soft handle, a distinctive fluffy halo, and a subtle luminosity. The sample garment was photographed in Peacock 671, a rich, jewel-toned colourway that highlights the yarn's natural sheen and depth of colour.

• Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Haze, lace weight (25g balls)
• Quantity required: 6 balls (sizes S and M), 7 balls (sizes L, XL, and XXL)
• Photographed colourway: Peacock 671

Working with a lace-weight mohair-silk blend like Kidsilk Haze requires patience and care, as the halo of the yarn can make it trickier to unpick stitches. Intermediate knitters will find that working slowly and checking tension regularly is key to achieving the best results with this fibre.

Needles

The pattern requires two pairs of straight needles in different sizes, which is typical for sweater construction where a smaller needle is used for ribbing or edging and a larger needle is used for the main body fabric:

• 2¾mm (UK No. 12 / US 2) needles
• 3¼mm (UK No. 10 / US 3) needles

The use of relatively fine needles in combination with the lace-weight yarn creates a fabric with excellent stitch definition and a fluid, lightweight drape that is characteristic of garments made in Kidsilk Haze.

Tension

Achieving the correct tension is especially important when working with fine yarns, as even small variations can significantly affect the finished dimensions of the sweater. Knitters are advised to work a tension swatch before beginning and to adjust needle size as necessary to match the stated tension in the pattern.

Construction and Techniques

The Carnation Sweater is constructed using traditional flat knitting techniques, with the pieces worked back and forth in rows on straight needles before being seamed together. The construction follows a classic sweater format, including a back, front, and sleeves, assembled using standard finishing methods.

Stitch Pattern

The body of the sweater features a repeating 8-row stitch pattern, which gives the fabric its distinctive texture and visual interest. The pattern repeat is structured as follows:

• The stitch pattern is worked over 8 rows, creating a rhythmic and relatively straightforward repeat once established
• Row 8 is a purl row, indicating the pattern incorporates both knit and purl combinations to build texture
• The pattern is described as forming a consistent repeat that is maintained throughout the body of the garment, including during shaping

Intermediate knitters will appreciate that the pattern instructs knitters to keep the stitch pattern correct while simultaneously working shaping, which requires attention