Rowan Malham Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Malham Cardigan by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Rowan Malham is a classic cardigan pattern available in two length options: a short cardigan and a long cardigan. The design is crafted by Lisa Richardson and comes in five size options to fit bust measurements from 81–86 cm (32–34 inches) up to 122–127 cm (48–50 inches). The finished garment features a tailored fit with shaped raglan armholes and a button-front closure, making it a versatile wardrobe staple suitable for various occasions and seasons.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using fundamental knitting techniques that make it accessible to knitters with basic to intermediate skills. The garment is worked flat on straight needles, meaning pieces are knitted in rows rather than in the round. The construction follows a bottom-up approach, beginning with the cast-on at the lower edge and progressing upward toward the shoulders. All pieces are seamed together after completion, creating neat, professional-looking joins. The pattern incorporates strategic shaping through decreases and increases to create the fitted silhouette and raglan armhole detail, with decreases worked using slip-stitch methods (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) and standard knit and purl decreases for a refined finish.

Stitches Used

The Rowan Malham employs a limited but effective stitch palette. The lower ribbed sections are worked in moss stitch, a textured stitch created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard pattern that provides elasticity and a decorative edge. The main body of the cardigan is worked in stockinette stitch (also called stocking stitch), the most fundamental knitting stitch that creates a smooth, classic fabric with a distinct right side and wrong side. Stockinette stitch is achieved by alternating rows of knit stitches on the right side with purl stitches on the wrong side, producing the traditional flat, V-textured appearance associated with quality knitwear.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Rowan Malham is designed to be knitted with Rowan Valley Tweed yarn, a premium wool blend that provides warmth and durability. For the short cardigan version, you will need 5–7 balls of 50-gram yarn (depending on size), while the long cardigan requires 7–11 balls of the same weight. The pattern specifies two needle sizes: 2¾mm (US 2) needles for casting on and working the moss stitch ribbing at the lower edges, and 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the main stockinette stitch sections. A 2¾mm circular needle at least 120 cm long is also required, likely for holding stitches or managing larger stitch counts during construction. The cardigan is finished with 5 buttons for the short version or 7 buttons for the long version (Rowan RW5030 buttons are recommended), which are sewn down the front opening to complete the button-front closure.

Pattern Details and Shaping

The back piece begins with a moss stitch foundation, then transitions to stockinette stitch. After working a short straight section, the pattern introduces waist shaping through decreases at each end, reducing the stitch count by one stitch on each side over several rows to create a fitted waist. Following this decrease section, the pattern reverses direction with increases at each end to add fullness through the hip area, building the garment's curves. The raglan armhole shaping is achieved by casting off a small number of stitches at the beginning of two rows, then working paired decreases on every row and alternating rows to gradually slope the shoulders inward, creating the distinctive raglan sleeve cap. The front pieces follow a similar construction method, with the same waist and hip shaping as the back, ensuring a cohesive, well-proportioned garment across all sizes.