Rowan Lauren Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Lauren Cardigan by Kim Hargreaves

What is Being Made

The Lauren cardigan is a classic button-front knitted cardigan designed by Kim Hargreaves for Rowan. This garment is available in five sizes ranging from extra small to extra large, with finished bust measurements from 81 cm (32 inches) to 102 cm (40 inches). The cardigan features a traditional construction with a structured fit suitable for everyday wear.

Construction Method and Techniques

This cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up seamed approach, meaning the pieces are knitted individually from the cast-on edge upward and then sewn together. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional shaping and finishing techniques.

The pattern includes detailed shaping for armholes, necklines, and shoulders. The left and right fronts are worked separately with mirror-image shapings, while the back provides the foundation for the overall garment structure. Sleeves are knitted as individual pieces and then set into the armholes using seaming techniques.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Lauren cardigan employs two primary stitch patterns:

• Garter stitch is used for the ribbed edgings at the lower edges and cuffs, providing elasticity and a finished appearance. An 8-row garter stitch border is worked on the back and fronts before transitioning to the main fabric.
• Stockinette stitch (stocking stitch) forms the main body of the cardigan, creating a smooth, classic fabric suitable for a versatile everyday garment.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Lauren cardigan is designed to be knitted with Rowan Original Denim yarn, a specialized denim-weight yarn that requires 16 to 19 skeins of 50-gram balls depending on the size selected. The yarn is photographed in the colorway Tennessee 231; knitters are encouraged to consult the full Rowan yarn range at www.knitrowan.com for additional color options.

Two needle sizes are required for this project:

• 3¾mm (US 5) needles are used for the initial cast-on and garter stitch edgings
• 4mm (US 6) needles are used for the main stockinette stitch sections

Both needle sizes should be in a straight needle format to accommodate the flat, seamed construction method.

Tension and Finishing Notes

The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches and 28 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using 4mm (US 6) needles before washing. An important consideration for this project is that Rowan Original Denim yarn will shrink in length during the first wash. The pattern includes allowances for this anticipated shrinkage, and knitters should refer to the size diagram provided in the full pattern to understand the finished measurements after washing.