Barbican Sweater in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK - Downloadable PDF

Barbican Sweater by Martin Storey – Knitting Pattern Summary (Rowan Alpaca Soft DK)

The Barbican Sweater is a classic, relaxed-fit pullover sweater designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan (pattern reference ZB177-00001). Originally presented in Rowan Pure Wool Superwash DK, this downloadable PDF pattern is also suited to Rowan Alpaca Soft DK weight yarn, making it a wonderfully versatile project for knitters who enjoy working with soft, lightweight fibres. The pattern is rated as beginner level, making it an ideal choice for those who are relatively new to garment knitting but are ready to tackle their first shaped sweater.

What Is Being Made

The Barbican is a knitted sweater or jumper designed for everyday wear. It features a classic construction with a shaped back, front, and set-in sleeves. The pattern includes shaping at the armholes, shoulders, and back neck, giving the finished garment a neat, tailored silhouette despite its beginner-friendly status. It is available in five sizes to suit a wide range of body measurements:

• Small (S): To fit bust 81–86 cm / 32–34 in
• Medium (M): To fit bust 91–97 cm / 36–38 in
• Large (L): To fit bust 102–107 cm / 40–42 in
• Extra Large (XL): To fit bust 112–117 cm / 44–46 in
• XXL: To fit bust 122–127 cm / 48–50 in

This size range makes the Barbican Sweater an inclusive and accessible pattern for a broad spectrum of knitters. The sweater was originally photographed in Marl 104, offering a beautiful visual reference for colour selection.

Techniques Used

Although rated as beginner level, the Barbican pattern introduces several important garment-construction techniques that help knitters build confidence and skill. These include:

• Armhole shaping: Achieved through casting off stitches at the beginning of rows, followed by a series of decreases on right-side and alternate rows to create a smooth, set-in armhole curve.
• Shoulder and back neck shaping: The back neck is shaped by working each side separately after placing stitches on a holder, with decreases at the neck edge worked simultaneously with shoulder cast-offs — a classic technique that produces a clean neckline finish.
• Working from a stitch holder: Stitches are placed on a holder mid-construction and returned to the needle later, a fundamental garment-knitting skill.
• Straight knitting: Sections of the pattern are worked straight (without shaping) until a specified measurement is reached, reinforcing the importance of gauge and measuring work accurately.
• Casting off and decreasing: Both standard cast-offs and single decreases (dec 1 st) are used throughout, helping beginners practise these core techniques in a practical context.

Stitches Used

The Barbican Sweater is worked primarily in straightforward knitted fabric. Based on the pattern content, the following stitches and techniques are referenced:

• Knit stitch (K): The main stitch used across the body of the sweater, referenced directly in the shaping rows (e.g., "K until there are 18 [19: 21: 24: 26] sts on right needle").
• Standard cast-off: Used at armhole shaping and shoulder construction.
• Decrease stitches: Single decreases worked at each end of rows and on alternate rows to shape the armhole and neck — typical beginner-friendly shaping methods.

The relatively simple stitch vocabulary makes this pattern an excellent learning tool, allowing beginners to focus on understanding garment construction and reading a knitting pattern rather than mastering complex stitch patterns.

Materials – Yarn, Needles, and Hooks

The Barbican Sweater