Rowan Cardinal Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Cardinal Cardigan by Liz Nields

What is Being Made

The Rowan Cardinal is a knitted cardigan designed by Liz Nields, available in five sizes ranging from M to XXL. This garment features a sophisticated construction with lace patterning and is worked as a button-front cardigan with shaped armholes and shoulders.

Construction Method and Techniques

The Cardinal cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up, worked-flat approach, meaning the pieces are knitted from the bottom edge upward and worked on straight needles rather than in the round. The garment is then seamed together to create the finished cardigan. This traditional construction method allows for precise shaping and patterning throughout the piece.

The design incorporates lace stitch work as a primary design element, creating an elegant, openwork aesthetic. The lace patterns are established from charted instructions and maintained throughout the body and armhole shaping, requiring careful attention to stitch placement and decreases.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The pattern utilizes several key stitches to create its structure and design:

• Stockinette stitch (St st) forms the foundation fabric and is maintained at the edges of the garment for clean seaming
• Garter stitch creates a ribbed border at the cast-on edge, worked over 8 rows to provide structure and prevent curling
• Slip, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over (Sl 1, K2tog, Psso) is a double decrease technique used within the lace patterns to create the openwork design elements
• Charted lace patterns (referenced as Chart A) are worked in specific repeats across the front and back pieces

Shaping and Fit

The cardigan features carefully planned shaping for a tailored fit. The left front begins with 55 to 69 stitches depending on size, with decreases worked 2 stitches in from the edges to create subtle waist shaping. Armhole shaping is accomplished through strategic bind-offs followed by edge decreases, creating a smooth curve. Shoulder shaping uses graduated bind-offs to create proper slope, with the back neck accommodating 25 to 31 stitches depending on size.

Materials and Tools Required

The Rowan Cardinal is designed to be worked with Rowan Creative Linen yarn, with the photographed sample shown in the Teal colorway (color 625). The pattern requires 5 to 6 balls of 100g yarn depending on the size being knitted.

Needle requirements include:

• US 8 (5 mm) knitting needles for the main fabric, used to achieve the specified tension
• US 6 (4 mm) knitting needles for the cast-on ribbed border
• US 6 (4 mm) circular knitting needle (36 inches or longer) for finishing and potentially picking up stitches for neckband or button bands
• A stitch holder for holding live stitches during construction
• One 1¼ inch button for the back neck closure

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 19 stitches and 27 rows to 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch using the larger US 8 needles. Achieving proper tension is essential for the cardigan to fit correctly across all sizes and for the lace patterns to display as designed. The pattern emphasizes checking tension before beginning to ensure accurate finished dimensions.