Balance Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Balance Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Revive

What is Being Made

The Balance Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Chloe Thurlow. This garment is crafted to fit chest measurements ranging from 71–76 cm (28–30 inches) through 152–157 cm (60–62 inches), with actual finished chest measurements between 86.5 cm and 168 cm depending on size selection. The cardigan features a structured construction with separate front and back pieces that are shaped at the armholes and neckline for a tailored fit.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several intermediate techniques that add visual interest and structural sophistication to the garment. The primary technique is cable knitting, which creates raised, twisted stitch patterns across the fabric. The pattern incorporates shaping techniques including decreasing at the neck edge over multiple rows and casting off at strategic points to create the armhole and neckline shaping. The cardigan is worked in separate pieces—the back, left front, and right front are knitted individually, then assembled. Reversing shapings between left and right fronts ensures symmetrical construction. The pattern uses an 18-stitch repeat that is repeated multiple times across rows, creating a consistent, balanced design throughout the garment.

Stitches Used

The Balance Cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with cable techniques. The foundational stitches include knit (K) and purl (P) stitches, which form the base fabric and create textural contrast. The pattern incorporates two specialized cable stitches:

• Tw2L (Twist 2 Left): Slip the next stitch onto a cable needle and hold at the front of work, purl one stitch, then knit one stitch from the cable needle
• Tw2R (Twist 2 Right): Slip the next stitch onto a cable needle and hold at the back of work (the pattern text indicates this abbreviation, though the full definition appears in the original document)

These twisted stitches create the characteristic cable texture that defines the cardigan's visual pattern. The pattern repeat spans 20 rows, allowing the cable motifs to develop fully across the fabric height.

Materials and Tools

The Balance Cardigan is knitted using Rowan Cotton Revive yarn, a natural fiber option available in multiple colorways including Ocean 008 (as shown in the photographed version). Yarn requirements range from 5 balls (100 grams each) for smaller sizes to 10 balls for the largest size, totaling between 500 and 1000 grams of yarn depending on the chosen size.

The knitting tools required are:

• 3¾mm (US 5) needles: One pair of straight or circular needles for the main fabric construction
• 3¾mm (US 5) double-pointed needles: For working smaller circumferences, such as neckline shaping
• Cable needle: Essential for manipulating stitches when creating the Tw2L and Tw2R cable twists

The pattern is worked to a tension of 28 stitches and 32 rows over 10 centimeters using the 3¾mm needles and measured over the patterned fabric, ensuring proper garment sizing and drape.

Pattern Structure and Construction

The cardigan follows a traditional multi-piece construction method. The left front is cast on with 61 to 118 stitches depending on size, and the first row establishes the pattern sequence with knit and purl stitches creating a balanced rhythm. The 18-stitch pattern repeat is repeated 2 to 6 times across each row depending on the chosen size, with edge stitches adjusted to accommodate the repeat. The 20-row pattern repeat is worked continuously until the front piece reaches the armhole depth, at which point armhole shaping begins by casting off 3 stitches. Neck shaping is executed by decreasing 1 stitch at the neck edge over 4 consecutive rows while simultaneously casting off larger groups of stitches (4 to 13 stitches depending on size) at the beginning of alternating rows. The right front is completed by reversing all shapings to create a mirror image. This intermediate-level construction produces a sophisticated cardigan with balanced cable patterning and professional finishing.