Cyclone (DE) in Rowan - Downloadable PDF

Cyclone Sweater by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Cyclone is a knitted sweater designed by Lisa Richardson for Rowan. This intermediate-level pullover sweater features raglan shaping and is available in multiple sizes ranging from 71-76 cm bust through to 152-157 cm bust, making it suitable for a wide range of body measurements. The sweater showcases a structured silhouette with carefully planned decreases that create the distinctive raglan construction.

Techniques Used

The Cyclone employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its finished design. Raglan shaping is central to the garment construction, with decreases worked at regular intervals to create the characteristic diagonal lines from armhole to neckline. The pattern utilizes decreasing techniques including oversized decreases (übzAbn) and paired decreases on both knit and purl rows to maintain pattern continuity while reducing stitch counts. The sweater demonstrates stitch pattern integration, where a stitch pattern is maintained throughout the body while decreases are strategically placed at the raglan edges.

Stitches Used

The construction of the Cyclone incorporates fundamental knitting stitches combined with a stitch pattern motif. Knit stitches and purl stitches form the foundation of the garment, with the pattern instructions indicating a main stitch pattern (referred to as "Mst") that runs through the center of the front and back pieces. The raglan decreases are worked using oversized decreases and together stitches (zusammenstricken), which are paired decreases that reduce stitch counts while maintaining the fabric's visual flow. Edge stitches in knit are maintained at garment edges for a finished appearance.

Materials

The Cyclone is designed to be knitted in Rowan Tweed Haze, a chunky-weight yarn. The yarn requirements vary by size, ranging from 7 balls of 50g for the smallest size (71-76 cm) up to 14 balls of 50g for the largest size (152-157 cm). The pattern was photographed in the colorway Clear Blue 551. Knitting needles appropriate for chunky-weight yarn are required to work this intermediate-level sweater, ensuring proper gauge and fabric drape for the finished garment.