Cockle Vest in Rowan Denim Revive - Downloadable PDF

Cockle Vest in Rowan Denim Revive by Chloe Thurlow – Knitting Pattern Summary

What You Are Making

The Cockle Vest is a knitted slipover (sleeveless vest) designed by Chloe Thurlow and published by Rowan. It is worked in a textured, repeating stitch pattern that gives the garment its distinctive surface interest. The design is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with multi-row pattern repeats and basic shaping techniques such as armhole and neckline shaping.

The vest is sized to fit a wide range of bust measurements, from 71–76 cm up to 152–157 cm (approximately 28–62 inches), with nine sizes in total. The actual finished garment measurements range from 86 cm to 167.5 cm in actual bust circumference, offering generous ease across the size range.

Construction and Techniques

The Cockle Vest is constructed using classic flat knitting techniques. Key construction details visible in the pattern include:

• Flat knitting worked back and forth in rows, with separate front and back pieces seamed together.
• Armhole shaping achieved by casting off stitches at the beginning of rows and then working decreases at each end of subsequent rows to create a neat, fitted armhole.
• Colour work involving joining and breaking off colours as required throughout the pattern, indicating a multi-colour design worked in stripes or a colour-based stitch pattern.
• A 40-row pattern repeat that runs throughout the body of the garment, requiring the knitter to track their position within the repeat carefully.
• Stitch pattern repeats of 27 stitches, worked a varying number of times across each row depending on the size being knitted (2 to 4 times per side).
• The back is worked straight until a set length (ranging from 28 cm to 32 cm depending on size) before armhole shaping begins, ensuring a well-proportioned fit.

Stitches Used

While the full stitch dictionary is contained within the downloadable PDF chart, the pattern makes clear use of the following:

• Charted stitch pattern – the main fabric is worked from a printed chart, with a 40-row vertical repeat and a 27-stitch horizontal repeat, creating the textured cockle effect referenced in the design name.
• Cast off and decrease stitches – used at armhole shaping to reduce stitch counts cleanly on both edges.
• Standard knit and purl combinations are implied by the nature of the 4-ply weight charted pattern typical of Rowan slipover designs.

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The pattern is written specifically for Rowan Denim Revive, a 4-ply weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. The colourway referenced in the pattern is Night 213, a deep, rich shade that would complement the textured stitch pattern beautifully. Because the pattern is designed around a specific yarn, substituting another yarn may affect the stitch gauge and overall drape of the finished vest.

Rowan Denim Revive is a yarn with denim-inspired qualities, and its 4-ply weight means the finished fabric will be fine, lightweight, and well-suited to a layering piece like a slipover vest. Knitters should swatch carefully to match the tension stated in the PDF before beginning, as achieving the correct gauge is especially important across the nine available sizes.

Who This Pattern Is For

The Cockle Vest is best suited to intermediate knitters who are confident reading knitting charts, managing multi-colour joins, and working repeating stitch patterns over a large number of rows. The wide size range makes it an accessible design for many body types, and the slipover format means no sleeve construction is required, keeping the project focused on the satisfying texture of the main body fabric. It is an ideal choice for knitters looking to build their colourwork and charted pattern skills while producing a stylish, wearable garment using premium Rowan