Hank Sweater in Rowan Softyak DK - ZB296-00006 Hank Sweater FR - Downloadable PDF

Hank Sweater by Martin Storey in Rowan Softyak DK – Pattern Summary (ZB296-00006)

The Hank Sweater is a classic pullover sweater design by Martin Storey, published by Rowan as a downloadable PDF pattern (reference ZB296-00006). Knitted in the beautifully soft Rowan Softyak DK yarn — photographed here in the shade Albany 255 — this is an intermediate-level knitting project that produces a relaxed, wearable everyday sweater with clean lines and a structured silhouette.

What Is Being Made

The Hank Sweater is a classic drop-shoulder or set-in-sleeve pullover worked in pieces and seamed. It features a shaped back with shoulder shaping and a defined neckline, making it a well-constructed garment rather than a simple drop-stitch design. The finished sweater is designed to have a slightly relaxed fit, with a finished chest measurement worked at the level of the garter stitch sections ranging from approximately 95.5 cm to 142.5 cm, accommodating a wide range of body sizes.

Sizes Available

• Six sizes are included in the pattern, designed to fit chest measurements of:
• 81–86 cm, 91–97 cm, 102–107 cm, 112–117 cm, 122–127 cm, and 132–137 cm
• Finished garment chest measurements (at garter stitch level): 95.5, 102.5, 113.5, 122.5, 132, and 142.5 cm respectively
• Total length of the back piece reaches 61 to 71 cm depending on size before shoulder and neck shaping begins

Construction and Techniques

The Hank Sweater is knitted flat in separate pieces — at minimum a back, front, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. The construction involves several classic garment-making techniques that make this an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to develop their skills further.

• Shoulder shaping: Worked using a series of cast-off rows at the beginning of right-side and wrong-side rows. The number of stitches cast off varies by size, with multiple stepped bind-off rows creating a neat, angled shoulder seam. For example, across the six sizes, between 3 and 5 stitches are cast off at the beginning of multiple rows to shape each shoulder.
• Neckline shaping: After the initial shoulder bind-offs, stitches are placed on hold and each side of the neck is worked separately. Decreases are worked at the neck edge over several rows to create a smooth, shaped neckline opening.
• Working each side of the neck separately: A key intermediate technique where stitches are left on a holder or spare needle while one side is completed, then the yarn is rejoined to work the other side — ensuring symmetrical shaping on both sides.
• Garter stitch sections: The pattern references measurements taken at the level of garter stitch, suggesting the design incorporates garter stitch as a textural or structural element, likely at the hem, cuffs, or as a design feature within the body of the sweater.
• Stocking stitch (stockinette): The main body of the sweater is worked in stocking stitch — knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows — which is the standard base fabric for a smooth, classic sweater finish.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) — the primary fabric of the sweater body and sleeves
• Garter stitch — used as a design or structural element, referenced in the finished measurements
• Standard cast-off (bind-off) techniques for shoulder and neck shaping
• Decreases at the neckline to shape the collar opening

Materials – Yarn

The pattern calls for Rowan Softyak DK, a premium double knitting weight yarn that blends the softness of natural fibres with the gentle warmth and slight halo associated