Aberdeen Argyll Sweater

Aberdeen Argyll Sweater by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Aberdeen Argyll Sweater is a women's pullover knit featuring a striking colourwork design inspired by Scottish heritage knitting traditions. This intermediate-level garment combines contrasting patterns with bold colour work, offering a knock-out visual impact. The sweater is designed with a flattering silhouette that includes a slightly shorter length and a lowered round neckline, making it both stylish and comfortable for everyday wear.

Design and Construction

This knitted sweater showcases a clever mix of contrasting patterns and strong singing colours throughout the body and sleeves. The design balances visual complexity with wearability—the colourwork is striking without being overwhelming. The garment is available in four sizes: Small (to fit bust 81.5–86.5 cm), Medium (91.5–96.5 cm), Large (101.5–106.5 cm), and Extra Large (112–117 cm), with finished bust measurements ranging from 32–34 inches in the smallest size to 44–46 inches in the largest.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Aberdeen Argyll Sweater employs colourwork knitting as its primary technique, allowing multiple yarn colours to be worked into the fabric simultaneously to create the distinctive patterned design. The pattern uses standard knit and purl stitches as the foundation for the colourwork sections. The construction requires working with stitch holders to manage stitches during shaping and finishing, particularly around the neckline and armholes. The slightly shorter length and lowered round neckline are achieved through careful shaping during the body and yoke construction.

Yarn and Needles

The Aberdeen Argyll Sweater is designed to be knitted in Rowan Fine Tweed, a finer-weight yarn that provides warmth while maintaining flexibility in the finished garment. The pattern notes that Rowan Felted Tweed is also suitable as an alternative yarn choice. The yarn weight is DK (double knitting), making this an accessible choice for intermediate knitters.

The pattern calls for two pairs of knitting needles: a pair of 3 mm needles (between U.S. size 2 and 3, with no exact U.S. equivalent) and a pair of 3.25 mm needles (U.S. size 3). Needle size should be adjusted as necessary to obtain the correct tension. Additional notions required include stitch holders for managing stitches during construction.

Tension and Fit

The pattern specifies a tension of 26 stitches over a measured distance, which is critical for achieving the correct finished dimensions. Knitters are advised to adjust needle size if necessary to match this tension, ensuring the garment fits properly across all four size options.