Sicily Sweater in Rowan Cotton Glace - Downloadable PDF

Sicily Sweater in Rowan Cotton Glacé by Marie Wallin – Crochet Pattern Summary

The Sicily Sweater is a beautifully crafted crochet sweater designed by Marie Wallin and published by Rowan. Available as a free downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is worked in Rowan Cotton Glacé, a lightweight DK-weight cotton yarn. The Sicily Sweater is a stylish, feminine garment that showcases elegant openwork crochet construction, making it an ideal warm-weather or transitional-season project for crocheters looking to develop their skills beyond the basics.

What Is Being Made

The Sicily Sweater is a women's pullover sweater worked in crochet. It is designed to be fitted through the body with shaping at the side seams, giving it a flattering silhouette. The pattern is offered in five sizes to fit bust measurements ranging from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) up to 122–127 cm (48–50 in), covering sizes Small through XXL. The sweater photographed in the original pattern is shown in Ivy 812, a soft muted green shade from the Rowan Cotton Glacé range.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Rowan Cotton Glacé, a DK-weight 100% cotton yarn sold in 50g balls
• Yarn quantity: 15 to 18 x 50g balls depending on size (15 balls for sizes S and M, 16 for L, 17 for XL, and 18 for XXL)
• Photographed colourway: Ivy 812
• Hook: A crochet hook appropriate for DK-weight yarn (specific size referenced within the full pattern)

Rowan Cotton Glacé is a mercerised cotton yarn known for its smooth finish, subtle sheen, and excellent stitch definition — qualities that make it particularly well-suited to lace and openwork crochet patterns like the Sicily Sweater. Its breathable cotton fibre content also makes the finished garment comfortable to wear in warmer temperatures.

Techniques Used

The Sicily Sweater is constructed using flat crochet panels that are seamed together. The pattern includes side seam shaping worked through carefully placed decrease rows, giving the sweater its fitted shape. The shaping is achieved through a combination of directional decreases and increases integrated directly into the stitch pattern, requiring the crocheter to maintain pattern continuity while simultaneously adjusting the garment's width — a hallmark of intermediate-level crochet construction.

• Flat panel construction with seaming
• Side seam shaping using integrated decreases
• Turning chains used as the first treble crochet of each row (3 chain counts as first treble)
• Repeat-based stitch pattern maintained throughout shaping rows

Stitches Used

The stitch pattern of the Sicily Sweater is built around a structured openwork treble crochet mesh. The key stitches and stitch constructions used include:

• Treble crochet (tr) – the primary stitch forming the fabric
• tr3tog (treble crochet 3 together) – a cluster decrease stitch that draws three treble crochets together into a single stitch, used extensively in the side seam shaping rows
• Chain spaces (ch sp) – used to create the openwork mesh structure that defines the pattern's lacy aesthetic
• Turning chain of 3 – counts as the first treble crochet at the beginning of each row

The main stitch pattern is set up as a two-row repeat, creating a rhythmic and relatively straightforward fabric once the repeat is established. The combination of treble crochets and chain spaces produces an airy, open texture that is both visually attractive and lightweight — perfectly complementing the smooth drape of Rowan Cotton Glacé.

Difficulty and Suitability

Rated as intermediate