Harper Sweater in Rowan Brushed Fleece - Downloadable PDF

Harper Sweater in Rowan Brushed Fleece by Quail Studio – Pattern Summary

The Harper Sweater is a classic, cosy pullover designed by Quail Studio for Rowan, worked in the luxuriously soft Rowan Brushed Fleece yarn. This is a beginner-friendly knitting pattern available as a downloadable PDF, making it an ideal project for those who are new to garment knitting or looking for a satisfying, straightforward make. The sweater is shown in the shade Crag 253, a beautifully muted, earthy tone that complements the fluffy, halo-rich texture of the yarn.

What Is Being Made

The Harper Sweater is a knitted pullover jumper constructed in separate pieces — a back, a front, and sleeves — that are seamed together on completion. It features a neat shaped neckline and armhole shaping, giving it a polished, fitted silhouette despite its beginner skill level. The pattern is written to fit six sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, and XXL, making it a versatile pattern suitable for a wide range of body types.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Rowan Brushed Fleece, a chunky weight yarn renowned for its soft, brushed mohair-like halo and exceptional warmth. The pattern calls for 8 to 10 balls depending on size (shown in shade Crag 253).
• Needles: Two needle sizes are required — 5mm (US 8) needles for the ribbed or garter stitch border sections, and 6mm (US 10) needles for the main body worked in stocking stitch.
• Extras: Stitch holders are needed to hold live stitches during neck shaping.

Tension

The recommended tension is 14 stitches and 21 rows to 10cm, measured over stocking stitch using 6mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is important in any garment knitting project, as it directly affects the finished dimensions of the sweater. Knitters are encouraged to work a tension swatch before beginning.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Garter Stitch: Used for the lower border of the back and front pieces. Garter stitch is worked by knitting every row, creating a ridged, stretchy fabric that lies flat — a perfect, simple edging for a beginner project.
• Stocking Stitch: The main body fabric of the sweater, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. Stocking stitch produces a smooth, classic knitted fabric that showcases the beautiful halo of the Rowan Brushed Fleece yarn to great effect.
• Armhole Shaping: Stitches are cast off at the beginning of rows and then decreased gradually using K2tog (knit two together) and S1, K1, psso (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over) on right-side rows, with corresponding purl-side decreases using S1 purlwise, P1, psso and P2tog. These paired decreases create neat, angled shaping at the armhole edges.
• Neck Shaping: Both the front and back feature shaped necklines. Centre stitches are placed on a stitch holder and each shoulder section is worked separately, with decreases worked at the neck edge to create a smooth, gently sloped neckline.
• Casting On and Casting Off: Standard cast-on and cast-off methods are used throughout, including mid-row cast-offs for armhole shaping.

Construction and Skill Level

The Harper Sweater is rated as a beginner project, making it an excellent introduction to knitting a full garment. The construction is straightforward — each piece is worked flat from the bottom up, with simple shaping introduced gradually. The use of