Apollo Sweater in Rowan Softyak DK - ZB296-00007-UK - Downloadable PDF

Apollo Sweater by Martin Storey in Rowan Softyak DK – Pattern Summary

The Apollo Sweater is a classic, well-structured pullover designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan. Released as a downloadable PDF pattern (reference ZB296-00007-UK), this is a knitted sweater worked in the versatile and comfortable Rowan Softyak DK yarn. It is rated as an intermediate difficulty project, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and are ready to move beyond straightforward construction.

What Is Being Made

The Apollo is a raglan-sleeved pullover sweater designed to be worn by adults. It features a shaped front neck and a structured body, giving it a clean, timeless silhouette. The garment is worked in separate pieces — back, front, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. The raglan construction means the sleeves and body are shaped simultaneously as they meet at the armhole, creating a smooth, diagonal seam line from the underarm to the neckline rather than a traditional set-in or drop shoulder.

The sweater is available in six sizes, designed to fit chest measurements ranging from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) up to 132–137 cm (52–54 in), with actual garment chest measurements spanning 92.5 cm to 141.5 cm (36½ in to 55¾ in), providing a comfortable, slightly eased fit across the size range.

Construction and Techniques

The Apollo Sweater is constructed using a number of key shaping and knitting techniques that place it firmly in the intermediate skill category:

• Raglan armhole shaping: Both the back and front pieces feature carefully coordinated raglan decreases. The shaping is worked symmetrically, with decreases on right-side rows to create the characteristic diagonal raglan lines. Knitters must maintain the stitch pattern correctly throughout the shaping, which requires attention and experience.
• Front neck shaping: The front neck is shaped separately on each side after a central division, with stitches placed on a holder. Decreases are worked at both the neck edge and the raglan armhole edge simultaneously, requiring the knitter to manage two sets of shaping at once — a hallmark of intermediate-level construction.
• Working each side of the neck separately: After dividing for the front neck, stitches are left on a holder while each side is completed individually, a standard but important technique for achieving a neat, symmetrical neckline.
• Seaming: As the garment is worked in pieces, finishing involves joining the raglan seams, side seams, and sleeve seams, which contributes to the structured, polished look of the finished sweater.

Stitches Used

The pattern references standard knitting stitches and techniques consistent with a classic DK-weight sweater:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches form the foundation of the fabric throughout the garment body.
• K2tog tbl (knit two together through the back loop): This decrease stitch is specifically referenced in the front neck and raglan shaping sections. It creates a left-leaning decrease and is used to give the shaping a neat, directional finish.
• K2tog (knit two together): A standard right-leaning decrease, used alongside K2tog tbl to create mirrored shaping on either side of the raglan and neck edges.
• Pattern stitches (patt): The instructions reference maintaining a stitch pattern throughout the shaping, indicating that the body of the sweater features a defined stitch pattern beyond plain stockinette, which the knitter must keep correct even as decreases are worked.

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The Apollo Sweater is designed specifically for Rowan Softyak DK, a DK-weight yarn that blends softness with a subtle natural texture. The yarn used in the photographed sample is the colourway Submarine 251, a rich, deep tone that gives the sweater a sophisticated, contemporary look.

• Yarn: Rowan Softyak DK, 50g balls
• Yarn quantity required: