Malone In Rowan Alpaca Sparkle - Downloadable PDF

Malone in Rowan Alpaca Sparkle – Knitting Pattern Summary

Malone is a sweater and jumper design by Lisa Richardson, published by Rowan as a downloadable PDF pattern (reference ZB381-00010-EN). Worked in the luxurious Rowan Alpaca Sparkle yarn, this design combines relaxed, generous proportions with a subtle shimmer, making it a standout wardrobe piece for cooler seasons. The pattern is rated advanced beginner, making it an ideal step up for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to tackle shaping and simple stitch pattern combinations.

What Is Being Made

Malone is a knitted sweater/jumper designed to be worn with a comfortable, oversized ease. The pattern includes a plain version and references joining in and breaking off colours, suggesting a colourwork or striped variation is also included. The garment is constructed in pieces — at minimum a back is detailed, with front and sleeves also forming part of the complete construction. The finished design features a ribbed hem and is worked flat on straight needles before seaming.

Sizing and Fit

Malone is offered in an impressive nine sizes, accommodating a wide range of bodies:

• To fit chest: 71–76 cm / 28–30 in through to 152–157 cm / 60–62 in
• Actual chest measurement of garment: 127.5 cm / 50¼ in up to 207.5 cm / 81¾ in

The generous positive ease built into every size gives Malone its characteristic relaxed, oversized silhouette, typical of contemporary Rowan knitwear design.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Rowan Alpaca Sparkle, a DK weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. As the name suggests, this yarn blends the softness of alpaca with a glittering sparkle fibre, giving the finished garment a subtle, elegant sheen. Yarn quantities for the plain version range from 8 balls in the smallest sizes up to 13 balls in the largest size, reflecting the generous proportions of the design.

Needles

• 7 mm (US 10½) needles – used for the ribbed welts and borders
• 9 mm (US 13) needles – used for the main body fabric

The significant jump in needle size between the rib and the body is a deliberate design choice, creating a firm, neat border that transitions into a looser, drapier main fabric — a technique well suited to the soft, halo-like qualities of an alpaca-blend yarn.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Rib Stitch

The lower body begins with a 2×2 rib, worked over a minimum of 7 cm. The rib is constructed as follows:

• Row 1 (RS): K2, *P2, K2, repeat from * to end
• Row 2 (WS): P2, *K2, P2, repeat from * to end

This classic rib creates a stretchy, elastic border that hugs the lower edge and helps the sweater maintain its shape at the hem. Working 2×2 rib on a smaller needle than the body is a standard technique to ensure the border does not flare or lose its elasticity.

Stitch Count Adjustment (Decrease Row)

After completing the rib, a decrease row is worked on the wrong side before changing to the larger needles. This row uses P2tog decreases placed at regular intervals to reduce the stitch count from the cast-on number to the correct count for the body pattern. For example, in the back piece, the stitch count is reduced from the cast-on total to 67–109 stitches depending on size. This technique is