Black Rose

Black Rose Sweater by Katrine H

What is Being Made

The Black Rose Sweater is an intermediate-level knitted pullover designed by independent designer Katrine H. This aran-weight knit features a sophisticated color work design combining a murky base color with contrasting accent colors in black, dark brown, acorn brown, and blush pink. The sweater is constructed as a complete garment with a fitted body and sleeves, available in multiple sizes ranging from small to large with bust circumferences from 97 cm (38 inches) to 113 cm (44+ inches).

Knitting Techniques and Construction

This sweater employs stranded colorwork as its primary decorative technique, requiring knitters to work with multiple yarn colors simultaneously to create the intricate rose pattern. The main body and sleeves are worked in stockinette stitch, providing a smooth, classic fabric base that allows the color pattern to stand out prominently. The stranded pattern sections require careful tension management to prevent puckering and ensure even fabric. Knitters should be prepared to work with multiple yarn colors held together, making this an intermediate project suitable for those with prior colorwork experience.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch – the primary stitch for the main body and sleeves, creating a smooth V-textured fabric
• Stranded colorwork – the signature technique for the rose pattern, involving carrying unused yarn colors across the back of the work

Yarn and Materials

The Black Rose Sweater is designed to be worked in aran-weight yarn, specifically combining two premium yarn bases:

• Alafoss Lett Lopi (100% wool) – used for the main color (1420 Murky), requiring 10 balls for the body and sleeves
• Drops Nepal (65% wool, 35% alpaca blend) – used for contrast colors including 0052 Sheep Black (2 balls), 0867 Dark Brown (2 balls), 0053 Brown Acorn (1/2 ball), and 8912 Mix Blush Pink (2 balls)

Knitting Gauge and Needle Requirements

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit and finished measurements. The recommended knitting gauge is 17 to 18 stitches over 10 cm (4 inches) in stockinette stitch.

Needle sizes:

• 4.5 mm (US 7) needles for working the main color stockinette sections
• 4 mm (US 6) needles (0.5 mm smaller) for the stranded colorwork pattern sections, helping to maintain consistent tension during color changes
• 3.5 mm (US 4) needles recommended for knitters with looser tension, with 4 mm needles for stranded sections if needed

The pattern emphasizes that needle size is a recommendation rather than a fixed requirement. Knitters should adjust needle size up or down based on their individual gauge to match the specified 17–18 stitches per 10 cm and achieve the correct finished measurements.

Size Range and Finished Measurements

The Black Rose Sweater is available in multiple sizes with the following bust circumferences: Size Small (97 cm / 38 inches), Size Medium (107 cm / 42 inches), and Size Large (113 cm / 44+ inches). These measurements are calculated based on achieving the specified knitting gauge.