Pearl Sweater in Rowan Felted Tweed DK - Downloadable PDF

Pearl Sweater in Rowan Felted Tweed DK by Lisa Richardson – Pattern Summary

The Pearl Sweater is a beautifully crafted knitted pullover designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and are ready to move beyond basic construction. The Pearl Sweater is a classic, wearable design with clean lines and thoughtful detailing, worked in a premium yarn that lends it both texture and warmth.

What Is Being Made

The Pearl pattern produces a knitted sweater (also known as a jumper or pullover). It is a set-in or shaped construction featuring a front and back worked flat, with distinct shoulder and neck shaping. The garment is designed to fit a wide range of bust measurements, making it a versatile pattern suitable for many body types.

• Garment type: Pullover sweater / jumper
• Construction: Worked flat in pieces, then seamed
• Sizing: Ranges from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in) to fit bust, with an actual garment bust measurement spanning 84 cm (33 in) to 164 cm (64½ in) across nine sizes

Techniques Used

The Pearl Sweater employs a number of classic knitting techniques that are characteristic of intermediate-level garment construction. These techniques ensure a well-fitted, professionally finished sweater.

• Flat knitting: The front and back pieces are worked back and forth in rows, rather than in the round, allowing for precise shaping at edges
• Neck shaping: The front neck is shaped by working each side separately after placing remaining stitches on a holder, with decreases worked over a series of rows and alternate rows to create a smooth, curved neckline
• Shoulder shaping: Stitches are cast off in stages at the beginning of rows to create a sloped shoulder seam, ensuring a neat and comfortable fit
• Back neck and shoulder shaping: The back mirrors the front shaping process, with rows worked to align precisely with the front before shoulders are cast off
• Decreasing: Single decreases are used at neck edges on specific rows and alternate rows to achieve gradual, even shaping
• Stitch holders: Stitches are placed on holders while working each side of the neck separately, a standard technique in garment knitting
• Seaming: As a pieced construction, the finished garment requires joining of front, back, and sleeve pieces

Stitches Used

The pattern references knit stitches explicitly within the shaping rows, indicating the use of standard knitting stitches throughout. The construction is consistent with the following:

• Knit stitch (K): Referenced directly in the pattern instructions, for example in the front neck shaping row
• Stocking stitch / stockinette: Implied by the structure of right-side and wrong-side row references, typical of sweater body fabric in this style of Rowan pattern
• Ribbing or edging stitches: Common in Rowan sweater patterns of this type for cuffs, hems, and neckbands, consistent with the intermediate skill level

Yarn and Materials

The Pearl Sweater is designed specifically for Rowan Felted Tweed DK, a beloved yarn in the Rowan range known for its rustic texture, subtle halo, and rich, heathered colorways. Felted Tweed DK is a lightweight yet substantial yarn that knits up with wonderful stitch definition, making it well suited to classic sweater silhouettes.

• Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed DK
• Weight: DK (double knitting)
• Ball size: 50 g skeins
• Colorways used in the pattern:
  • Color A