Chinese Rose Coat in Rowan Felted Tweed DK (DE) - ZB303-00002-DEP - Downloadable PDF

Kaffe Fassett Chinese Rose Coat in Rowan Felted Tweed DK – Pattern Summary

What Is Being Made

This pattern by Kaffe Fassett is for a Chinese Rose Coat, a full-length or substantial outerwear coat designed for knitters with an intermediate skill level. The design is available as a downloadable PDF (reference ZB303-00002-DEP) and is presented in German (DE). It is a statement garment featuring Kaffe Fassett's signature bold, colourwork aesthetic, making it a striking addition to any handknitted wardrobe.

Sizes Available

The coat is offered in a generous range of nine sizes, accommodating bust measurements from 71–76 cm up to 152–157 cm. The actual knitted bust measurements range from 116.5 cm to 196.5 cm, providing a comfortable, relaxed fit across all sizes. This inclusive size range makes the pattern accessible to a wide variety of body types.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Felted Tweed DK, a beloved yarn known for its rustic, tweedy texture and subtle halo created through a felting process. It is a DK weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. Three specific colourways are used in this design:

• Colour A – Tawny 186: used as a primary or background colour, with quantities ranging from 14 to 24 balls depending on size
• Colour B – Lotus Leaf 205: used as an accent colour, with 1 ball required across all sizes
• Colour C – Scarlet 222: used as a further accent colour, with 1 ball required across all sizes

The use of Rowan Felted Tweed DK gives the finished coat a warm, earthy quality with excellent stitch definition, ideal for showcasing both textural and colourwork patterns.

Needles

The pattern specifies needle sizes 4.5 mm and 5 mm. The smaller needle (Nr. 4½) is used for the ribbed welts and borders, while the larger needle (Nr. 5) is used for the main body of the coat once the ribbing is complete. A double strand of yarn is used during the cast-on row for the back piece, adding structure and stability to the foundation edge.

Construction and Techniques

The coat is worked in separate pieces — the pattern references a back piece (Rückenteil) as a starting point, suggesting a traditional construction method with front and back panels worked flat and then seamed. Key construction techniques include:

• Ribbing: The lower welt is worked in a 3×3 rib pattern (3 stitches knit, 3 stitches purl, alternating), worked over 34 rows to create a firm, elastic border
• Shaping increases: Evenly spaced increases are worked in the final row of the ribbing section to transition smoothly to the main stitch count before beginning the colourwork chart
• Colourwork chart (Zählmuster): The main body of the coat is worked from a colourwork chart beginning immediately after the ribbing, which is characteristic of Kaffe Fassett's intricate, painterly approach to knitted colour design
• Wrapped stitches / short rows: The pattern references the technique of lifting a wrap (Umwicklung) onto the left needle and working it together with its corresponding stitch, indicating the use of short-row shaping for a precise, gap-free finish

Stitches Used

The following stitch types and techniques are employed throughout the pattern:

• 3×3 Rib (Rippenmuster): alternating 3 knit and 3 purl stitches, forming the cuffs and lower border
• Knit and purl stitches: the fundamental building blocks used throughout