Dovetail Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Dovetail Cardigan by Martin Storey in Rowan Pebble Island

What Is Being Made

The Dovetail is a knitted cardigan designed by Martin Storey, available in the Rowan Pebble Island yarn. This garment is a classic button-front cardigan with raglan shaping and features an integrated cable panel detail. The pattern is graded across nine sizes to fit chest measurements ranging from 71-76 cm (28-30 inches) up to 152-157 cm (60-62 inches), making it suitable for a wide range of body sizes from children through to adults.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level cardigan employs several key knitting techniques. The garment features raglan armhole shaping, which involves decreasing stitches at regular intervals to create the characteristic diagonal seam lines from the underarm to the neckline. The construction uses two-stitch decreases (K2tog and K2tog tbl) worked symmetrically to maintain pattern balance. The pattern incorporates cable panel work, requiring the use of a cable needle to create twisted stitch effects. Button bands are worked as part of the finishing process, with six imitation horn buttons (20mm TGB4775 from Textile Garden) used for closure.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Dovetail uses a combination of fundamental and decorative stitches. The main fabric is worked in stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), which provides a smooth, classic base. A cable panel measuring 33 stitches is integrated into the design, featuring cable crosses worked with the abbreviation C4B (cable 4 back). The pattern instructions reference a four-row repeat pattern that forms the basis of the stitch structure. Decreases are worked using knit 2 together through the back loop (K2tog tbl) and standard knit 2 together (K2tog) for raglan shaping, while purl 2 together (P2tog) and purl 2 together through the back loop (P2tog tbl) are used on wrong-side rows to maintain pattern continuity.

Materials and Gauge

The Dovetail is knitted using Rowan Pebble Island yarn in 50-gram balls, with the photographed sample shown in the colorway Macaroni 029. Two pairs of needles are required: 4mm (US 6) needles and 4½mm (US 7) needles, along with a cable needle for working cable crosses. The pattern is worked to a specific tension of 21 stitches and 29 rows over 10 centimeters when measured in pattern stitch using the 4½mm needles. The cable panel measures 11 centimeters in width. Finishing requires six 20mm imitation horn buttons for the front closure.

Construction Details

The cardigan is constructed with careful attention to pattern alignment throughout. After casting on, the back piece is worked straight in the established pattern until it reaches the required length (ranging from 32 to 36 centimeters depending on size). Raglan armholes are then shaped by casting off stitches at the beginning of rows, followed by a series of paired decreases worked over multiple rows. The pattern provides specific row counts for each size to ensure proper shaping. The neckband is worked after the raglan shaping is complete, with stitches held on a holder for later pickup and finishing.