Rocky Sweater in Rowan Pebble Island (DE) - Downloadable PDF

Rocky Sweater by Erika Knight in Rowan Pebble Island – Pattern Summary

The Rocky Sweater is an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Erika Knight, published as a downloadable PDF. It is worked in Rowan Pebble Island yarn and features a classic, structured silhouette with a distinctive stand-up collar (Stehkragen) and decorative embroidery detail. This is a versatile, wearable design that suits a wide range of sizes, making it an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with shaping and basic stitch patterns and are ready to develop their skills further.

What Is Being Made

The Rocky Sweater is a knitted pullover jumper designed for adults. It features a fitted body with shoulder shaping and a ribbed stand-up collar that is worked as an integral part of the neckline finish. A charming detail of the design is the addition of embroidery worked in a contrasting colour of the same yarn, adding a handcrafted, artisanal touch to the finished garment. The sample shown in the pattern photography is knitted in Kelp 028 with Macaroni 029 used for the embroidery contrast.

Sizes Available

The Rocky Sweater is offered in nine sizes, designed to fit the following actual bust measurements:

• 71–76 cm – knitted bust: 100 cm
• 81–86 cm – knitted bust: 110.5 cm
• 91–97 cm – knitted bust: 121 cm
• 102–107 cm – knitted bust: 129.5 cm
• 112–117 cm – knitted bust: 140 cm
• 122–127 cm – knitted bust: 150.5 cm
• 132–137 cm – knitted bust: 161 cm
• 142–147 cm – knitted bust: 171.5 cm
• 152–157 cm – knitted bust: 181.5 cm

The generous range of sizes and the significant positive ease built into the design give the Rocky Sweater a relaxed, comfortable fit across all sizes.

Techniques Used

This pattern uses a combination of classic knitting techniques that make it well suited to intermediate knitters looking to build on their foundational skills:

• Shoulder shaping – stitches for each shoulder are placed on a holder and worked or cast off separately, creating a neat, structured shoulder line
• Stand-up collar construction – the collar (Stehkragen) is worked directly from the remaining neckline stitches after shoulder stitches are placed on hold, integrating the collar seamlessly into the garment
• Ribbed collar shaping with decreases – the collar rows include specific decrease rows using techniques such as übzAbn (yarn-over decrease) and 2 Maschen zusammenstricken (knitting two stitches together), tapering the collar neatly
• Embroidery – a small amount of contrasting yarn is used to add decorative embroidered detail to the finished sweater, a technique that adds personality and a handmade quality without requiring advanced needlework skills
• Stitch holding – the use of a spare needle or stitch holder for shoulder stitches is a key construction technique in this pattern

Stitches Used

The Rocky Sweater incorporates the following stitch patterns:

• Knit and purl stitches – the fundamental building blocks of the garment's fabric
• Rib stitch – used prominently in the stand-up collar, alternating knit and purl stitches to create an elastic, structured texture that holds its shape around the neckline
• Decrease stitches – including yarn-over decre