Plover in Rowan Moordale - ZB297-00004-UK - Downloadable PDF

Plover Sweater Knitting Pattern by Martin Storey for Rowan

The Plover is a classic knitted sweater designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan as pattern ZB297-00004-UK. Available as a downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a beautifully textured pullover jumper with a timeless, relaxed aesthetic. The design is photographed in Feather 001, a soft, neutral colourway that highlights the subtle surface interest created by the stitch pattern.

Garment Overview

The Plover is a fitted-to-relaxed pullover sweater designed to suit a wide range of bust sizes. The pattern is written for five sizes, making it accessible to a broad range of knitters:

• To fit bust: 81–86, 91–97, 102–107, 112–117, and 122–127 cm (32–34, 36–38, 40–42, 44–46, and 48–50 in)
• Actual bust measurement of garment: 112, 122.5, 132, 142.5, and 152 cm (44, 48¼, 52, 56, and 59¾ in)

The generous actual measurements indicate a comfortable, relaxed fit with ease built into the design. The sweater features shaped shoulders and a shaped back neck, with stitches placed on holders for a neat neckband finish — hallmarks of a well-constructed, polished garment.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Moordale, a DK weight yarn, worked in 100g skeins. The yarn quantity required varies by size:

• 6 x 100g skeins for the two smallest sizes
• 7 x 100g skeins for the middle sizes
• 8–9 x 100g skeins for the larger sizes

Rowan Moordale is a premium DK yarn with a characterful, slightly rustic texture that suits country-inspired and classic knitwear designs. Its composition gives the finished fabric a lovely drape and warmth, making it ideal for a sweater like the Plover. The sample garment is shown in Feather 001, a light, heathered neutral shade that beautifully showcases the texture of the stitch pattern.

As with most DK weight projects, knitters will typically use knitting needles appropriate for DK yarn — commonly 3.75mm and 4mm needles — though knitters should always refer to the tension/gauge section of the PDF for the exact needle sizes specified in this pattern.

Techniques and Construction

The Plover is rated as an intermediate skill level, making it well-suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping, working multiple stitches simultaneously, and following multi-row instructions across several sizes. The construction follows a traditional set-in or shaped-panel approach, with the back and front pieces worked separately and then seamed.

Key construction techniques featured in this pattern include:

• Shoulder shaping worked by casting off stitches at the beginning of successive rows, with stitch counts varying by size to create a neat, angled shoulder line
• Back neck shaping involving casting off stitches, working each side of the neck separately, and decreasing at the neck edge over multiple rows
• Stitch holders used to hold centre back neck stitches for the neckband, ensuring a clean and professional finish
• Moss stitch maintained correctly throughout shaping rows, requiring the knitter to keep pattern continuity even while casting off and decreasing

Stitches Used

The defining stitch of the Plover is moss stitch (also known as seed stitch in American terminology). Moss stitch is created by alternating knit and purl stitches across each row, with the stitches offset on subsequent rows so that knits sit above purls and vice versa. This produces a dense, textured, non-curling fabric with a beautifully bumpy surface. It is a classic stitch choice