How to knit a brocade jumper – Knitting pattern from Rowan: 40 Years

If you’re a keen knitter you’ll no doubt know all about Rowan and their iconic designs. Even if you’re a complete beginner like me, you’ll probably have at least heard of Rowan. Either way, their new book Rowan: 40 Years, 40 Iconic Hand-Knit Designs has just been published and is packed full of inspiration and patterns to get you knitting like a pro. And the best thing is that I’ve got an extra copy of the book to give away to one lucky winner so read on to enter the competition below…

The book itself is a high quality hardback and the cover features 64 of the magazine’s front covers, starting with the very first issue. There’s patterns for 40 designs that reflect Rowan’s style over the years. The projects range from traditional knits to contemporary styles with plenty of playful patterns and designs. With jumpers, coats, scarves, shawls, cardigans, wraps and roll-necks, there’s a project to suit every taste.

Rowan: 40 Years, 40 Iconic Hand-Knit Designs

Sixth&Spring Books ISBN: 978-1-64021-028-8 £25.00 

Here’s what the publisher says about it:

A collection of the best of the very best from ‘Rowan’ magazine in honour of the company’s 40th anniversary. Featuring the work of such renowned knitwear designers as Kaffe Fassett, Martin Storey, Louisa Harding and Sarah Hatton, ‘Rowan: 40 Years’ celebrates the magazine’s legacy with gorgeous sweaters, cardigans, wraps and more. While it offers a gallery of covers, never-before-seen images from the original magazines and a brief history, half of the designs have been knit again using modern colours and newly photographed with updated styling to prove Rowan’s designs are as fashionable today as they were years or decades ago. Every knitter will turn to this book for patterns and inspiration.

If you want to have a go at knitting this brocade jumper for yourself, the publisher has been kind enough to send over an extract from the book. All the pattern steps, sizes and wool details are below, and you can bookmark this page for later if you want to come back to it when you’re snuggled by a roaring fire with your knitting needles in your hands.

And if you want to enter the competition to win a copy of Rowan: 40 Years, 40 Iconic Hand-Knit Designs, scroll down to the Rafflecopter widget to earn your entries!

BROCADE PATTERN

by Kaffe Fassett Magazine 38

SIZE

To fit bust
81        86        91        97        102      cm

32        34        36        38        40        in

Actual bust measurement of garment

84        89        94        100      105      cm

33        35        37        39½     41½     in

YARN

Rowan Felted Tweed and Kidsilk Haze

A Felted Tweed Watery 152  –  5          5          5          6          6          x 50gm

B Kidsilk Haze Peacock 671  –  4          4          4          4          4          x 25gm

C Felted Tweed Avocado 161  –  4          4          5          5          5          x 50gm

D Kidsilk Haze Jelly 597  –  3          3          4          4          4          x 25gm

NEEDLES

1 pair 4mm (no 8) (US 6) needles

1 pair 4½mm (no 7) (US 7) needles

TENSION 

22 sts and 28 rows to 10cm (4in) measured over patterned st st using 4½mm (US 7) needles.

Note: Yarns A and B are used together throughout and Yarns C and D are used together throughout.

BACK

Using 4mm (US 6) needles and yarns A and B together, cast on 90 [98: 102: 110: 114] sts.

Break off yarns A and B and join in yarns C
and D.

Row 1 (RS): K2, *P2, K2, rep from * to end.

Row 2: P2, *K2, P2, rep from * to end.

These 2 rows form rib.

Work in rib for a further 14 rows, inc
1 [0: 1: 0: 1] st at each end of last row and ending with RS facing for next row.
92 [98: 104: 110: 116] sts.

Change to 4½mm (US 7) needles.

Beg and ending rows as indicated and using the intarsia technique as described on the information page, cont in patt from chart, which is worked entirely in st st beg with a K row, as follows:

Cont straight until chart row
92 [94: 96: 98: 98] has been completed, ending with RS facing for next row. Back should measure 37 [37: 39: 40: 40]cm.

Shape armholes

Place markers at both ends of last row to denote base of armholes.

Keeping chart correct, dec 1 st at each end of next 6 rows. 80 [86: 92: 98: 104] sts.

Cont straight until chart row 140 [142: 146: 148: 152] has been completed, ending with RS facing for next row. Armhole should measure
17 [17: 18: 18: 19]cm.

Shape shoulders and back neck

Next row (RS): Cast off 12 [13: 14: 15: 17] sts,
patt until there are 16 [17: 19: 20: 21] sts on right needle and turn, leaving rem sts on
a holder.

Work each side of neck separately.

Cast off 4 sts at beg of next row. 

Cast off rem 12 [13: 15: 16: 17] sts.

With RS facing, rejoin yarns to rem sts, cast off centre 24 [26: 26: 28: 28] sts, patt to end.

Complete to match first side, reversing shapings.

FRONT 

Work as given for back until 16 [16: 16: 18: 18] rows less have been worked than on back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with RS facing for next row.

Shape neck

Next row (RS): Patt 32 [34: 37: 40: 43] sts and turn, leaving rem sts on a holder.

Work each side of neck separately.

Keeping patt correct, dec 1 st at neck edge of next 4 rows, then on foll 4 [4: 4: 5: 5] alt rows. 

24 [26: 29: 31: 34] sts.

Work 3 rows, ending with RS facing for next row.

Shape shoulder

Cast off 12 [13: 14: 15: 17] sts at beg of next row.

Work 1 row.

Cast off rem 12 [13: 15: 16: 17] sts.

With RS facing, rejoin yarns to rem sts, cast off centre 16 [18: 18: 18: 18] sts, patt to end.

Complete to match first side, reversing shapings.

SLEEVES (both alike)

Using 4mm (US 6) needles and yarns A and B together, cast on 42 [42: 46: 46: 46] sts.

Break off yarns A and B and join in yarns C
and D.

Work in rib as given for back for 12 rows, ending with RS facing for next row. 

Change to 4½mm (US 7) needles.

Beg and ending rows as indicated, cont in patt from chart as follows:

Inc 1 st at each end of 3rd and every foll 6th [6th: 6th: 6th: 4th] row to 76 [76: 78: 78: 58] sts, then on every foll – [-: 8th: 8th: 6th] row until there are – [-: 80: 80: 84] sts, taking inc sts
into patt.

Cont straight until chart row 112 [112: 114: 114: 114]
has been completed, ending with RS facing for next row. Sleeve should measure 44 [44: 45: 45: 45]cm.

Shape top

Place markers at both ends of last row to denote base of armholes.

Keeping patt correct, dec 1 st at each end
of next 6 rows, ending with RS facing for
next row. 

Cast off rem 64 [64: 68: 68: 72] sts.

MAKING UP

Press. Join right shoulder seam using back stitch,
or mattress stitch if preferred. 

Collar

With RS facing, using 4½mm (US 7) needles and yarns C and D, pick up and knit
17 [17: 17: 18: 20] sts down left side of neck,
16 [18: 18: 18: 18] sts from front, and
17 [17: 17: 18: 20] sts up right side of neck, then

32 [34: 34: 36: 36] sts from back.
82 [86: 86: 90: 94] sts.

Work in rib as given for back for 20cm.

Break off yarns C and D and join in yarns A and B.

Using yarns A and B, cast off in rib. 

See information page for finishing instructions, setting in sleeves using the shallow set-in method and reversing collar seam for turn-back.

Let me know if you have a go at knitting this pattern for yourself. And now, onto the giveaway! There are plenty of ways to earn entries into the competition via the Rafflecopter widget below so enter now and best of luck to you all! One winner will be chosen at random after the competition closes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway open to UK residents only. Prize includes 1 x Rowan: 40 Years, 40 Iconic Hand-Knit Designs. One winner will be chosen at random after the competition ends and will need to provide a delivery address to receive their prize. Giveaway runs from 27th October – 18 November 2018.