Rowan Canton Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Canton Cardigan by Amy Herzog

What is Being Made

The Rowan Canton is a classic knitted cardigan designed by Amy Herzog. This garment is available in five sizes ranging from Small to XXL, with finished bust measurements from 81–86 cm up to 122–127 cm. The cardigan features a button front closure with five buttons and is constructed using a structured, tailored approach suitable for intermediate knitters.

Knitting Techniques

The Canton cardigan is worked using several key knitting techniques:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is knitted from the lower edge upward, beginning with the back and front pieces worked separately
• Worked flat: All pieces are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for easier shaping and seaming
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces (back, fronts, and sleeves) are knitted separately and then seamed together to create the finished garment
• Waist shaping: The back piece includes increases worked at each edge on the 6th row at intervals, creating a shaped silhouette with increases ranging from 2 to 3 stitches depending on size
• Armhole shaping: Cast-off stitches at the armhole openings followed by decreases over multiple rows create a fitted sleeve cap
• Neck and shoulder shaping: The back neck is shaped with decreases, and shoulder seams are formed through strategic cast-offs

Stitches Used

The Canton cardigan employs fundamental knitting stitches to create its classic appearance:

• Ribbing: Used at the lower edge of the back and fronts, providing elasticity and a finished edge
• Stockinette stitch (st st): The primary stitch throughout the body and sleeves, creating a smooth, professional finish
• Knit and purl combinations: Used in ribbed sections for texture and structure
• Decreases: K2tog (knit two together) decreases are used for shaping at the neck and armholes
• Make one (M1) increases: Used strategically in the waist shaping rows to add stitches for the fitted silhouette

Materials and Specifications

The Rowan Canton requires the following materials and tools:

• Yarn: Rowan Kid Classic, a soft yarn suitable for cardigans. The pattern shown is photographed in Cherry Red 847. Yardage requirements vary by size, with 7–11 balls of 50-gram weight needed depending on the finished size
• Needles: One pair of 5mm (US 8) straight needles for working the flat pieces, plus one 5mm (US 8) circular needle at least 120 cm long for picking up stitches around the neckline and button bands
• Notions: Five RW5030 buttons measuring 18mm in diameter from Bedecked
• Tension: 19 stitches and 25 rows to 10 cm measured over stockinette stitch using 5mm needles. Checking and adjusting tension before beginning is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements

Pattern Details

The Canton cardigan is graded across five sizes with proportional increases in stitch counts and row measurements. The back piece begins with a ribbed cuff and increases gradually to create waist shaping before the armholes are introduced. Armhole depth ranges from 19–23 cm depending on size. The front pieces mirror the back shaping and include provisions for button bands. The pattern is presented as a downloadable PDF document (reference ZB210-00003) and is suitable for knitters with intermediate skill levels who are comfortable with shaping techniques and seam finishing.