Finsbury Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Finsbury Cardigan by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Finsbury is an intermediate-level cardigan designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan. This garment is crafted using Rowan Kid Classic yarn and is available in nine different sizes, ranging from 71-76 cm chest (28-30 inches) up to 152-157 cm chest (60-62 inches). The cardigan features a fitted silhouette with shaping at the armholes and back neck, making it a classic wardrobe piece suitable for various occasions.

Techniques Used

The Finsbury cardigan employs several key knitting techniques throughout its construction. The pattern includes incremental shaping along the body, with increases worked at regular intervals to create a fitted garment. Armhole shaping is achieved through a combination of cast-off stitches at the beginning of rows and decreases worked at the edges over multiple rows. The pattern incorporates pattern repeats that must be maintained while shaping is occurring, requiring the knitter to balance stitch decreases and increases with the established stitch pattern. Back neck shaping is also featured, adding structure and professional finishing to the neckline.

Stitches Used

While the specific stitch pattern is referenced as a repeating motif throughout the pattern instructions, the Finsbury utilizes a combination of knit and purl stitches arranged in a pattern repeat. The construction involves stockinette stitch as a foundation, with additional texture created through the main pattern. Shaping is accomplished using standard knitting decreases (worked at armhole and neck edges) and increases (worked along the body). The pattern requires careful attention to maintaining stitch counts and keeping the pattern correct while executing these shaping techniques.

Materials

The Finsbury cardigan is designed to be knitted with Rowan Kid Classic yarn, a soft and luxurious fiber. Yarn requirements vary by size: the smallest size (71-76 cm chest) requires 5-6 balls of 50-gram skeins, while the largest size (152-157 cm chest) requires 8 balls. Two needle sizes are required for this project: 5mm (US 8) needles and 5.5mm (US 9) needles. The working tension is 30 stitches and 32 rows to 10 centimeters, measured over the pattern using the 5.5mm needles. This tension measurement is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements of the garment.