Rowan Hope Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Hope Cardigans by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Hope pattern features children's cardigans designed by Martin Storey, available in four sizes to fit ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, and 9-10 years. The garments are sized to fit chest measurements ranging from 53-56 cm up to 69-73 cm, with finished chest measurements from 69.5 cm to 88 cm. These are classic button-front cardigans with shaped armholes and shoulders, featuring a decorative fairisle patterned yoke worked in stranded colorwork.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several key techniques suited to creating a structured, professional-looking cardigan:

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is worked from the lower edge upward, allowing for easy adjustments to length during knitting
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, making this accessible for knitters who prefer traditional flat knitting methods
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces (back, left front, and right front) are knitted separately and then seamed together for a polished finish
• Stranded fairisle colorwork: The pattern incorporates fairisle technique, a traditional method of working with multiple colors in a single row by carrying unused yarn across the back of the work. The fairisle section is worked from a chart, with rows 1 to 34 worked once, followed by rows 35 to 40 repeated throughout the yoke
• Shaping techniques: The pattern includes cast-off shaping for armholes and shoulders, as well as decreasing at edges to create fitted armholes and neckline shaping

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with fairisle colorwork. The main fabric is worked in stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), which provides a smooth, classic base for the fairisle pattern. The fairisle technique involves working with two colors per row, creating a densely patterned yoke section. Shaping is accomplished through standard cast-off decreases at armholes and shoulders, and single-stitch decreases worked at edges to create the fitted armhole and neck shaping.

Materials

Yarn: The pattern calls for Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino, a soft, luxurious yarn blend suitable for children's garments. Three colors are used:

• Color A (Anthracite): 5-8 x 50g balls depending on size
• Color B (Silver): 2-3 x 50g balls depending on size
• Color C (Taupe): 1-2 x 50g balls depending on size

Needles: The pattern requires two needle sizes to create a fitted fabric:

• 1 pair of 2¾mm (US 2) needles for ribbed edgings
• 1 pair of 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the main fabric and fairisle colorwork
• 1 circular needle in 2¾mm (US 2) at least 80 cm long for neckband work

Notions: Five buttons (BN1979 from Bedecked) are required for the front closure.