Rowan Nambu Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Nambu Cardigan by Marie Wallin

What is Being Made

The Rowan Nambu is a knitted cardigan designed by Marie Wallin, available in five sizes ranging from 81-86 cm to 122-127 cm bust measurements. This garment is constructed as a classic button-front cardigan with tailored shaping and a refined silhouette suitable for everyday wear.

Construction Method

The cardigan is worked flat on straight needles using a bottom-up construction, meaning pieces are knitted from the lower edges upward toward the shoulders. Individual pieces—including the back, left front, and right front—are worked separately and then seamed together to create the finished garment. This traditional approach allows for precise shaping and professional finishing.

Stitch Techniques

The pattern employs two primary stitch patterns:

• Garter stitch (g st): Used for the lower edge ribbing, creating a textured, elastic border that provides structure and prevents curling. The garter stitch section is worked for 4 rows at the beginning of each piece.
• Stockinette stitch (st st): The main fabric throughout the body of the cardigan. This smooth, classic stitch creates the refined appearance typical of tailored knitwear and is worked consistently after the initial garter stitch edging.

Stripe Design

The Nambu features a two-color striped pattern created by alternating between two distinct yarns. The lower sections of the front pieces and back are worked in yarn B (Steppe 231), establishing the garter stitch border and initial stockinette rows. The pattern then transitions to yarn A (Cream 230) for the upper body and shoulder shaping, creating a horizontal color break that adds visual interest and design sophistication.

Shaping and Details

The cardigan incorporates several shaping techniques to achieve a fitted, professional fit:

• Waist shaping: Increases are worked at regular intervals (every 10th or 12th row depending on size) along the front edges, creating gentle A-line shaping that flatters the silhouette.
• Shoulder shaping: The shoulders are shaped through progressive bind-offs at the armhole edge, creating a structured shoulder line. Multiple bind-off rows are staggered across alternate rows to create a smooth, graduated slope.
• Neck shaping: The neckline is formed by binding off center stitches and working each side of the neck separately, with decreases at the neck edge to create a refined, fitted neckline.

Materials and Tools

The Rowan Nambu is knitted using Softyak DK yarn, a double-knit weight fiber that provides excellent drape and wearability. The pattern requires:

• Yarn A (Cream 230): 6, 6, 8, 8, or 9 balls of 50-gram weight, depending on size
• Yarn B (Steppe 231): 3, 3, 4, 4, or 4 balls of 50-gram weight, depending on size
• Needles: One pair of 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the ribbed edges and one pair of 4mm (US 6) needles for the main fabric

Tension and Gauge

The pattern is designed to be worked at a tension of 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using the 4mm (US 6) needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit across all five sizes, as the garment's measurements are calculated based on this specific stitch and row density.

Skill Level

This pattern is suitable for intermediate knitters with experience in basic garment construction, including casting on, binding off, increasing, decreasing, and seaming. Familiarity with working from written instructions and managing multiple pieces is recommended.