Clara Sweater in MODE at Rowan Cotton DK

Clara Sweater in MODE at Rowan Cotton DK

What is Being Made

The Clara Sweater is a knitted pullover garment designed by Quail Studio. This intermediate-level sweater is crafted in Rowan Cotton DK yarn and features decorative patterned panels as a central design element. The sweater is available in nine sizes, ranging from chest measurements of 71-76 cm (28-30 inches) up to 152-157 cm (60-62 inches), with corresponding finished chest measurements from 118 cm (46½ inches) to 200 cm (78¾ inches).

Techniques Used

The Clara Sweater employs several key knitting techniques appropriate for an intermediate skill level. Cable knitting is utilized in the construction, as evidenced by cable abbreviations such as C4B (cable 4 back), which involves slipping stitches onto a cable needle and crossing them over subsequent stitches to create twisted, rope-like textures. The sweater incorporates stitch pattern panels as focal design elements, with both diamond panels and oval panels worked into the body of the garment. The neckband is worked using the circular needle technique, allowing for seamless knitting in the round at the neck opening. Reverse stockinette stitch (rev st st) forms the primary fabric base, creating a textured, purl-facing surface that provides visual interest and depth to the finished sweater.

Stitches Used

• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St St): The main fabric stitch, measured at a tension of 22 stitches and 30 rows over 10 cm using 3.75mm needles
• Diamond Panel: A decorative stitch pattern panel measuring 38 stitches in width and approximately 14.5 cm across
• Oval Panel: A smaller decorative stitch pattern element measuring 8 stitches in width and approximately 3 cm across
• Cable Stitches: Including C4B (cable 4 back) for creating textured cable details
• Purl Stitches: Used as edge stitches and separators between pattern panels

Materials

The Clara Sweater is constructed using Rowan Cotton DK yarn, a lightweight double-knit weight yarn supplied in 50-gram balls. Yarn quantities vary by size, ranging from 13 balls for the smallest size (71-76 cm chest) to 18 balls for the largest size (152-157 cm chest). The pattern photographed sample is worked in the colorway Macaroon 011. Knitting requires 3.25mm (US 3) needles for the ribbed sections and neckband work, and 3.75mm (US 5) needles for the main body fabric. A 60 cm long 3.25mm circular needle is specified for working the neckband in the round.