Pear Sweater in Rowan Handknit Cotton - RM004-00016-UK - Downloadable PDF

Pear Sweater in Rowan Handknit Cotton – Quail Studio Pattern RM004-00016-UK

The Pear Sweater is a beautifully crafted knitted pullover designed by Quail Studio for Rowan, worked in the brand's beloved Handknit Cotton DK yarn. This intermediate-level pattern (Skill Level 2) produces a relaxed, wearable sweater with a shaped neckline and a generous fit across five sizes, making it a versatile wardrobe staple for knitters ready to move beyond beginner projects.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a knitted sweater or jumper designed to fit bust measurements ranging from 81–86 cm up to 122–127 cm (approximately 32–34 in to 48–50 in), with actual garment bust measurements of 98 cm, 106 cm, 116 cm, 126 cm, and 136 cm (38½ in to 53½ in). The generous ease across all sizes gives the finished sweater a relaxed, comfortable silhouette. The design has been photographed in Ecru 251 and Celery 309, two of Rowan's classic Handknit Cotton shades, showcasing how beautifully the stitch pattern reads in both neutral and soft green tones.

Construction and Shaping Techniques

The Pear Sweater is constructed using traditional flat knitting methods, with pieces worked back and forth in rows and seamed together. Key construction details include:

• Shoulder division: Stitches are divided for the neck by placing left shoulder stitches and back neck stitches onto separate holders, allowing each side of the neck to be worked independently for a neat, professional finish.
• Front neck shaping: The neckline is shaped with a series of carefully sequenced increases — beginning with increases on the next and following 4th rows, continuing on alternate rows, and finishing with increases on consecutive rows — creating a smooth, gradual curve. The number of increase rows varies by size, ensuring the proportions remain consistent across the full size range.
• Pattern continuity: Throughout all shaping, knitters are instructed to keep the stitch pattern correct and to take increased stitches into the pattern as they are added, which requires attention to detail and is one of the reasons this pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty.
• Row-by-row guidance: The pattern specifies working additional rows in pattern (varying by size) before dividing for the neck, with careful attention to which side of the fabric — right side (RS) or wrong side (WS) — is facing at each stage.

Stitches Used

The pattern references a stitch pattern (patt) that is worked consistently throughout the body of the sweater. While the full stitch repeat detail is contained within the complete PDF, the instructions make clear that:

• The fabric is worked in a defined repeating stitch pattern that must be maintained during all increases and shaping rows.
• Purl rows are used during the neck division stage, indicating the pattern includes both knit and purl elements consistent with a textured or stocking stitch-based design.
• Increases are worked at the neck edge and incorporated into the established pattern, a technique that requires the knitter to understand how the stitch repeat works in order to add stitches seamlessly.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Rowan Handknit Cotton, a DK weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. The yarn quantities required range from 9 balls for the smallest size up to 11 balls for the largest size. Rowan Handknit Cotton is a 100% cotton yarn known for its clear stitch definition, smooth texture, and excellent drape — qualities that make it particularly well suited to stitch patterns that rely on crisp detail. The yarn is available in a wide palette, with this design shown in the classic shades Ecru 251 and Celery 309. Needles are required as specified within the full pattern PDF, consistent with standard DK weight knitting needle sizing.

Who This Pattern Is For

Rated at Skill Level 2 (Intermediate) by