Olive Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Olive Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Cashmere

What is Being Made

The Olive Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed to fit bust measurements ranging from 81-127 cm (32-50 inches). This garment features a sophisticated lace panel pattern and is constructed using Rowan Cotton Cashmere yarn in the Dark Olive colorway. The cardigan is worked primarily in stockinette stitch with decorative lace panels that create an elegant, refined aesthetic suitable for layering or wearing as a standalone piece.

Construction Technique

The cardigan body is worked in one piece up to the armholes using circular needles, which allows for seamless construction and efficient stitch management across a large number of stitches. The garment begins with a hemmed cast-on edge, created by folding the cast-on edge to the wrong side along a designated fold line and securing it with a knit-together technique. This hemming method provides a professional, finished appearance at the lower edge. Lace panels are strategically placed and worked throughout the body, positioned by counting in from both ends of the row to ensure symmetrical placement across the front and back sections.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns Used

The primary stitch throughout the cardigan is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric base. The cardigan features a decorative Panel Pattern worked over 36 stitches that incorporates lace-making techniques. This panel pattern uses the following key stitches:

• Yarn forward (yfwd) – creates deliberate eyelet holes that form the lace design
• Slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K1, psso) – a left-leaning decrease used to shape the lace motif
• Knit 2 together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease that pairs with the slip-stitch decrease to create balanced lace shaping
• Knit (K) – forms the solid sections between lace elements
• Purl (P) – used on wrong-side rows and for the garter stitch edging

The panel pattern is worked over alternating right-side and wrong-side rows, with purl rows appearing on every alternate row to maintain proper tension and stitch definition. The lace pattern progresses through rows 1 to 38, with rows 35 to 38 repeated as needed to achieve the desired length. Garter stitch edging (knit on both sides) is incorporated at the front edges to provide structure and prevent curling.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Olive Cardigan is knitted using Rowan Cotton Cashmere yarn, a blend fiber that combines the breathability and drape of cotton with the softness and warmth of cashmere. The pattern requires 9 to 11 balls of 50-gram yarn, depending on the size being made, with the photographed sample worked in the Dark Olive colorway (shade 218).

Two needle sizes are required for this project to achieve proper fabric drape and structure. The hemmed cast-on and initial rows are worked on 3½mm (US 4) needles, which create a tighter gauge suitable for the hem. The main body is then worked on 4mm (US 6) needles, which produce a more open, fluid fabric. Both needle sizes are used in circular needle format (at least 120 cm long) to accommodate the large stitch counts required for the cardigan body. The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stockinette stitch using the 4mm needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.