Rowan Angelou Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Angelou Cardigan by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Angelou is a knitted cardigan designed by Martin Storey, available as a downloadable PDF pattern from Rowan. This beginner-friendly cardigan is suitable for knitters new to garment construction, offering a classic wardrobe staple with button-front closure. The pattern includes ten size options ranging from 81 cm to 127 cm bust measurements (32 to 50 inches), making it accessible for a wide range of body types.

Techniques Used

The Angelou cardigan employs fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginner-level crafters. The pattern utilizes ribbed knit and purl combinations for textured stitch patterns and structured edges. Shaping techniques include armhole decreases worked at regular intervals, shoulder shaping using cast-off stitches, and neck shaping with strategic decreases and cast-offs to create a finished neckline. The front borders are worked as an integral part of the main fabric rather than picked up separately, simplifying construction. The pattern note indicates that slipped stitches are worked with yarn positioned at the right side of the work to create a neat, finished appearance on the garment exterior.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K): The foundational stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl stitch (P): Used in combination with knit stitches to create textured rib patterns
• Ribbed pattern: Alternating knit and purl stitches (K2, P2 repeat) create vertical columns that provide stretch and structure, particularly in the front borders and lower edges
• Slipped stitches (Sl 1P): Stitches slipped purlwise with yarn held at the right side of work to create clean, professional-looking selvage edges
• Cast-on and cast-off: Essential techniques for beginning and finishing the garment sections

Materials

The Angelou cardigan is designed to be knitted using Rowan Summerlite DK yarn, a lightweight double-knitting weight yarn. The pattern requires 7 to 11 balls of 50-gram skeins depending on the size selected, with the sample photographed in the Summerlite colorway 453. Two needle sizes are required: 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the ribbed edges and 3¾mm (US 5) needles for the main pattern fabric. The gauge is established at 23 stitches and 42 rows to 10 centimeters measured over pattern using the larger 3¾mm needles. The cardigan is finished with five BN1302 buttons from Bedecked, which provide functional and decorative closure along the front opening.

Pattern Construction Details

The cardigan is constructed in separate pieces—back, left front, and right front—which are later joined. The left front begins with casting on between 48 and 76 stitches depending on size, with ribbed edging worked for 8 centimeters before transitioning to the main pattern fabric. Armhole shaping occurs through decreases worked on alternate rows and fourth rows, reducing the stitch count progressively. The armhole depth ranges from 17.5 to 22 centimeters across the size range. Shoulder shaping uses sequential cast-offs to create sloped shoulders, while the back neck features a wide cast-off section (29 to 33 stitches depending on size) to accommodate the neckline opening. Each front piece is shaped independently to create the button band and front neck opening, with shaping reversed between left and right fronts for symmetry.