Hornshaw Sweater in Rowan Big Wool - D209 - Downloadable PDF

Hornshaw Sweater by Martin Storey – Rowan Big Wool Knitting Pattern (D209)

The Hornshaw Sweater is a beautifully structured, cosy pullover designed by Martin Storey for Rowan, worked in the brand's signature Big Wool super-chunky yarn. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a classic crew-neck sweater featuring a ribbed hem and body worked in smooth stockinette stitch, making it an ideal project for knitters with some experience who want a satisfying, relatively quick knit thanks to the large needle size and chunky yarn weight.

Garment Overview

The Hornshaw Sweater is a single-design pattern for a pullover jumper worked in two colours of Rowan Big Wool. The sweater is constructed in separate pieces — a front and a back — which are then seamed together. The front features a divided neck shaping, creating a neat crew neckline, while both front and back include armhole shaping for a tailored fit. The pattern is sized to fit a chest measurement ranging from 97 cm (38 in) up to 127 cm (50 in), covering sizes XS through 2XL, making it accessible to a wide range of body types.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting: The sweater pieces are worked flat on a single pair of needles, meaning the knitter works back and forth in rows rather than in the round.
• Ribbing: The lower edges are worked in a 2×2 rib (knit 2, purl 2) with a specific offset to create a neat, stretchy border that hugs the body at the hem.
• Stockinette stitch (st st): The main body of both the front and back is worked in classic stockinette stitch — knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side — giving the fabric a smooth, clean appearance that showcases the chunky yarn beautifully.
• Armhole shaping: Stitches are cast off at the beginning of rows and then decreased on alternate rows to create a shaped armhole, with the number of decreases varying by size.
• Neck shaping: The front neck is divided using a stitch holder, and each side is worked separately with decreases at the neck edge on both consecutive and alternate rows to form a smooth, rounded neckline.
• Shoulder shaping: Shoulders are shaped by casting off stitches in stages across two rows, giving a neat, structured shoulder seam.
• Stitch holder usage: Stitches for one side of the neck are placed on a stitch holder while the other side is completed, a standard technique for working divided sections independently.

Stitches Used

• 2×2 Rib: Worked as K3, *P2, K2, repeat from * to last stitch, K1 on right-side rows, and P3, *K2, P2, repeat from * to last stitch, P1 on wrong-side rows. This offset rib creates a tidy, elastic border.
• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The primary stitch pattern for the body, worked as knit on right-side rows and purl on wrong-side rows. This stitch creates a smooth fabric surface that drapes well in a super-chunky weight yarn.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Big Wool, a super-chunky weight yarn sold in 100g balls. Two colourways are specified as originally photographed:

• Colour A – Forest 043: Required in quantities ranging from 8 to 12 x 100g balls depending on size, this deep green shade forms the main body of the sweater.
• Colour B – Concrete 061: Just 1 x 100g ball across all sizes, used as a contrast colour accent.

The recommended needle size is a single pair of 10mm (UK no. 000 / US 15) needles. The tension (gauge) is 9 stitches and 12½ rows to 10 cm measured over stockinette stitch