Huxley Slipover in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK - RM007-00020-ENPFRP - Downloadable PDF

Huxley Slipover by Martin Storey in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK – Pattern Summary

What You Are Making

The Huxley Slipover is a classic knitted vest or slipover designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan as pattern reference RM007-00020-EN. It is a sleeveless pullover worked in a richly textured stitch pattern, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for both casual and smart-casual wear. The garment is photographed in Charcoal 211 and is available in six sizes to fit chest measurements ranging from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) up to 132–137 cm (52–54 in), with actual garment chest measurements spanning 101 cm to 150 cm, offering a comfortable, slightly relaxed fit across all sizes.

Construction and Structure

The Huxley Slipover is constructed in separate pieces — a back and a front — which are seamed together. Both pieces begin with a ribbed welt worked on smaller needles before transitioning to the main body pattern on larger needles. The front features a divided front neck, where stitches are placed on a holder and each side of the neck is worked separately, with careful neck shaping worked over a series of decrease rows. Armhole shaping is achieved through cast-off rows at the beginning of rows followed by paired decreases on right-side and alternate rows, giving a neat, tailored armhole edge. The back neck is shaped to mirror the front, with shapings reversed for the second side.

Techniques Used

• Ribbing: The welts are worked in a K2, P2 rib, forming the foundation rows on smaller needles. This two-row rib repeat creates a firm, elastic border that holds its shape well.
• Chart-based stitch pattern: The main body is worked from a knitting chart featuring a 28-stitch pattern repeat and a 58-row pattern repeat. The number of pattern repeats across each row varies by size, ranging from 4 to 6 full repeats, ensuring the design scales correctly across all chest sizes.
• Armhole shaping: Involves casting off stitches at the beginning of rows, followed by single decreases at each end of right-side rows and alternate rows — a standard set-in or shaped armhole technique.
• Neck shaping: The front neck is divided at a central point, with stitches held on a stitch holder. Neck edge decreases are worked on specific rows (2nd, 4th, and alternate rows depending on size), creating a smooth, gradual V-shaped or rounded neckline curve.
• Increase and decrease adjustments in rib: A single increase or decrease is worked at the end of the final rib row before transitioning to the main pattern, fine-tuning the stitch count to align correctly with the chart repeat.
• Working from a stitch holder: Stitches are left on a holder at the front neck divide and rejoined later, a standard technique for working both sides of a neck separately.

Stitches Used

• K2, P2 rib — used for the welts and borders, worked flat over two rows
• Stocking stitch (stockinette) — referenced in the tension/gauge swatch and likely forming the background of the chart pattern
• Charted textured pattern — a repeating stitch motif worked from a chart with a 28-stitch horizontal repeat and 58-row vertical repeat, adding visual interest and surface texture to the body of the slipover

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Alpaca Soft DK, a DK weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. The quantity required ranges from 6 to 9 balls depending on size. This yarn's alpaca content gives the finished fabric a soft, slightly hazy handle with excellent drape — well suited to a textured stitch pattern where the yarn's natural lustre enhances stitch definition without overwhelming it.

Needles Required

• 3.25 mm (US 3) straight needles — for the ribbed welts