Saxon Sweater in Rowan Denim Revive - ZB296-00001-FR - Downloadable PDF

Martin Storey Saxon Sweater in Rowan Denim Revive – Pattern Summary

The Saxon Sweater is a classic knitted cardigan designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan. This intermediate-level pattern is available as a downloadable PDF (reference ZB296-00001-FR) and is written in French. It produces a structured, elegant cardigan featuring a combination of stitch textures, patch pockets, and a neat button band — making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable working with multiple stitch patterns simultaneously.

Garment Overview

The Saxon is a classic-fit cardigan designed to be worked in pieces and seamed. The pattern includes a back, a left front, a right front, sleeves, and two patch pockets. The finished garment spans a wide range of sizes, accommodating chest measurements from 81–86 cm up to 132–137 cm, with corresponding actual garment bust measurements of 101 cm to 150 cm, offering generous ease across all sizes.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting worked back and forth in rows on straight needles
• Seaming to join the individual pieces of the cardigan together
• Patch pocket construction — two separate pocket linings are knitted and held on a stitch holder before being incorporated into the fronts
• Button band and border knitting using a continuous moss stitch (point de riz) border worked alongside the main fabric
• Needle sizing changes to create ribbed or border sections at a tighter tension before switching to the main fabric needle size
• Shaping through increases and decreases for armholes, necklines, and sleeve tapers

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (jersey endroit / jersey envers) — the primary fabric stitch, worked in alternating knit and purl rows
• Moss stitch (point de riz) — used for the lower body borders, cuffs, and the continuous 11-stitch front button band that runs the full length of each front piece
• The combination of stocking stitch body with an integrated moss stitch border is established early in the left front instructions and maintained throughout, giving the cardigan a clean, professional finish without requiring a separately picked-up button band

Pocket Details

The pattern calls for two patch pockets (fond de poche), each begun by casting on 37, 37, 39, 39, 41, or 41 stitches (depending on size) using the smaller 3¼ mm needles. The pocket fabric is worked in stocking stitch for 50, 50, 52, 52, 54, or 54 rows, ending on a wrong-side row. The stitches are then cut and left on hold, ready to be attached to the fronts at the appropriate point in construction.

Materials

Yarn

• Rowan Denim Revive — a DK weight yarn, used throughout the pattern
• The sample garment is photographed in Darkness 217
• Yarn quantities range from 17 to 26 balls of 50g depending on the size being knitted

Needles

• 1 pair of 3¼ mm (UK 10 / US 3) needles — used for borders, cuffs, and pocket tops worked in moss stitch
• 1 pair of 3¾ mm (UK 9 / US 5) needles — used for the main stocking stitch body fabric

Who Is This Pattern For?

Rated as intermediate difficulty, the Saxon Sweater is well-suited to knitters who have moved beyond beginner projects and are confident working flat pieces, managing multiple st