Powder Sweater in Rowan Cotton Glace - RM004-00010-UK - Downloadable PDF

Powder Sweater by Martin Storey in Rowan Cotton Glace – Pattern Summary (RM004-00010-UK)

The Powder Sweater is a women's knitted pullover designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan (pattern reference RM004-00010-UK). This downloadable PDF pattern produces a classically shaped sweater with elegant stitch detailing, worked in the lightweight Rowan Cotton Glace yarn. The design is rated at Skill Level 3, making it an ideal project for intermediate knitters who are comfortable working from charts and managing shaping alongside a repeating stitch pattern.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's fitted to semi-fitted pullover sweater. It is sized to fit a bust measurement ranging from 81–86 cm up to 122–127 cm (approximately 32–34 in to 48–50 in), with actual garment bust measurements spanning 112 cm to 152 cm (44 in to 59¾ in), providing a comfortable ease across all sizes. The sweater is photographed in Bleached 726, a crisp, clean white shade that showcases the surface texture of the stitch pattern beautifully.

Construction and Techniques

The Powder Sweater is constructed using traditional flat knitting methods, with separate pieces worked back and forth in rows and then seamed. Key construction techniques include:

• Chart-based stitch patterning: The design features a repeating stitch motif worked from a chart. Rows 29 to 46 of the chart form the main repeating section worked throughout the body of the garment, requiring knitters to read and follow a knitting chart accurately.
• Shoulder shaping: Shoulders are shaped using a stepped cast-off method. Stitches are cast off in groups over multiple rows, with the number of stitches and rows varying by size, creating a neat, structured shoulder line.
• Back neck shaping: The back neck is shaped by dividing the remaining stitches and working each side separately, with decreases worked at the neck edge over several rows to create a smooth, fitted neckline.
• Stitch holder usage: Stitches are placed on holders while working each side of the neck independently, a standard intermediate technique for managing live stitches during neck shaping.
• Keeping pattern correct: Throughout all shaping, knitters are instructed to keep the stitch pattern correct, which requires careful attention to chart placement as stitches are increased or decreased — a hallmark of intermediate-level knitting.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

While the full stitch list is contained within the complete PDF, the pattern prominently features:

• A charted stitch pattern forming the main fabric of the sweater, with a defined repeat section spanning chart rows 29 to 46 that is worked continuously throughout the body.
• Standard knit and purl stitches as the foundation of the charted design, typical of textured or lace-adjacent DK-weight sweater patterns from Rowan.
• Cast-off and decrease techniques used during shoulder and neck shaping, including single decreases at the neck edge.

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The pattern is written specifically for Rowan Cotton Glace, a popular DK weight (lightweight) mercerised cotton yarn, sold in 50 g balls. The yarn quantity required ranges from 13 to 15 balls depending on the size being knitted. The sample garment was worked in shade Bleached 726. Rowan Cotton Glace is known for its smooth, slightly lustrous finish and excellent stitch definition, making it particularly well-suited to showcasing textured or detailed stitch patterns. Being a cotton yarn, it produces a garment with good drape and breathability, ideal for warmer seasons.

Specific needle sizes are referenced within the full PDF. As a DK-weight Rowan pattern, knitters should refer to the tension/gauge section of the downloadable PDF to confirm the correct needle size and achieve the stated measurements accurately before casting on.

Pattern Format and Sizing

• Format: Downloadable PDF