Rowan Ashmore Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Ashmore Cardigan by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Ashmore is a sophisticated beaded cardigan designed by Martin Storey. This garment is crafted to fit bust sizes ranging from 81-86 cm through to 122-127 cm, with actual finished bust measurements between 90.5 cm and 130.5 cm across the five available sizes. The cardigan features decorative beading throughout the pattern and is fastened with seven buttons.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create both structure and visual interest. The garment is worked flat, meaning it is knitted in separate pieces rather than in the round, allowing for easier pattern management and shaping. The pieces are then seamed together to create the finished garment. The design incorporates lace patterning, which creates openwork sections that add elegance and drape to the piece. The cardigan is constructed bottom-up, meaning knitting begins at the lower edge and progresses upward toward the shoulders and neckline.

A notable feature of this design is the integration of beading throughout the pattern. Before knitting begins, approximately 200 to 300 beads (depending on size) are threaded onto the yarn using a fine sewing needle and thread. During knitting, beads are placed using a specialized technique: the yarn is brought to the right side of the work, the bead is slipped up next to the stitch just worked, the next stitch is slipped purlwise, and the yarn is returned to the wrong side, leaving the bead sitting in front of the slipped stitch on the right side. This creates a secure, decorative beaded effect integrated directly into the fabric.

Stitches Used

The Ashmore cardigan employs fundamental knitting stitches combined with shaping techniques. The pattern uses stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows) as the base fabric. Ribbing is used for the lower edge and button bands, created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a 1x1 pattern (K1, P1 repeat). The lace sections are achieved through yarn overs and decreases worked in a coordinated pattern. The pattern note emphasizes that each decrease must be matched by an increase to maintain stitch count and pattern integrity. Shaping techniques include cast-offs for the shoulder seams and decreases for armhole shaping, with the pattern specifying that if insufficient stitches remain to work both a decrease and its matching increase at the row ends, those edge stitches are worked in stockinette stitch instead.

Materials

The Ashmore cardigan is knitted using Rowan Island Blend Fine yarn, a premium yarn choice that provides excellent stitch definition for both the lace pattern and beading details. The pattern requires 7 x 50 gram balls of yarn (the sample shown is photographed in the colorway Pompous 106). The cardigan is worked on two sizes of needles: 2¾mm (US 2) needles for the ribbed edges and 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the main pattern sections. The tension is measured at 25 stitches and 35 rows to 10 centimeters over pattern using the 3¼mm needles. The cardigan is completed with seven BN1366 buttons measuring 1.5 cm from Bedecked.

Pattern Details

This is a downloadable PDF pattern document (reference ZB265-00008-UK, version 1) published by MEZ Crafts UK Ltd. in 2020. The pattern is designed for knitters with intermediate skill level and includes detailed shaping instructions for the back, front, and sleeves. The garment features set-in armholes with specific measurements for each size, and shoulder shaping that tapers the neckline. Care is taken throughout the pattern to ensure beads are not placed on edge stitches, as this would interfere with the seaming process.