Pear Sweater in Rowan Handknit Cotton - RM004-00016-DE - Downloadable PDF

Pear Sweater in Rowan Handknit Cotton

What is Being Made

The Pear Sweater is an intermediate-level pullover sweater designed by Quail Studio and published by Rowan. This knitted garment is available in five sizes with actual bust measurements ranging from 98 cm to 136 cm, accommodating bust sizes from 81-86 cm up to 122-127 cm. The sweater features a crew neckline with shaping details and is constructed using the Handknit Cotton yarn from Rowan, photographed in the colorways Ecru 251 and Celery 309.

Techniques Used

This intermediate knitting project employs several fundamental shaping techniques to create a well-fitted garment. The pattern uses increases at the neckline to shape the crew neck opening, with increases worked at strategic intervals: one increase in the first row after the neckline separation, followed by additional increases spaced across subsequent rows. The sweater is constructed with separate side seams, with both front and back pieces worked separately and then finished independently. The pattern maintains stitch pattern continuity throughout the shaping process, ensuring that any stitch pattern used flows seamlessly through the increases. The construction method involves dividing stitches across multiple stitch holders to manage the front neckline, back neckline, and shoulder sections during the knitting process.

Stitches Used

The Pear Sweater is worked primarily in stockinette stitch (referred to as "li" in the pattern, indicating knit stitches on right-side rows). The pattern incorporates increases as a shaping element, worked at the neckline to create the proper fit and depth of the crew neck opening. The pattern notation indicates increases are distributed across multiple rows to create gradual, invisible shaping that maintains the integrity of the stockinette fabric.

Materials and Tools

The Pear Sweater is knitted using Rowan Handknit Cotton, a DK weight yarn. The pattern requires 9 to 11 balls of 50-gram yarn depending on the size selected, with the sample photographed in Ecru 251 and Celery 309. Knitting is worked on 4.5 mm (US 7) straight needles for flat pieces and a 4.5 mm circular needle measuring no longer than 40 cm for working in the round, particularly useful for the neckline shaping. The circular needle's shorter length is ideal for working the crew neckline without stretching the stitches.

Pattern Details

This downloadable PDF pattern (RM004-00016-DE) from Rowan provides comprehensive instructions for constructing the Pear Sweater. The pattern is classified as difficulty level 2, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle garment construction with basic shaping. The five-size range ensures accessibility for various body measurements, and the use of DK weight cotton yarn creates a lightweight, breathable garment appropriate for warm-weather wear.