Rowan Nigella Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Nigella Cardigan by Marie Wallin

What Is Being Made

The Rowan Nigella is a lace cardigan designed by Marie Wallin, available as a downloadable PDF pattern. This garment is constructed using a bottom-up knitting method and features a sophisticated lace pattern throughout. The cardigan is sized to fit bust measurements ranging from 81–86 cm (small) through 122–127 cm (extra-extra-large), making it suitable for a wide range of body types.

Construction Method

The Nigella cardigan is worked flat on straight needles and then seamed together. The construction begins with a main body section knitted from the bottom up, followed by a separate back section. These pieces are joined using seaming techniques—either back stitch or mattress stitch—with the seam positioned at the center. The main body section is then folded in half and joined to the back section at opposite row end edges. Ribbed cuffs are picked up and worked in the round using a circular needle to finish the edges.

Techniques Used

• Lace knitting: The cardigan features an all-over lace pattern worked from a chart, creating an open, decorative fabric
• Bottom-up construction: The garment is knitted from the lower edges upward
• Seaming: Pieces are joined using back stitch or mattress stitch for a professional finish
• Flat knitting: The main sections are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round
• Circular needle work: Ribbed cuffs are picked up and worked in the round using a circular needle
• Ribbed edging: A 2×2 rib pattern (knit 2, purl 2) creates the finished cuff edges

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure consists of a 14-stitch pattern repeat worked from a chart, which forms the lace design across the body and back sections. The pattern is repeated multiple times across each row—12 to 15 times depending on size—to achieve the full width of the cardigan. The cuffs are finished with a 2×2 ribbed stitch (alternating knit 2 and purl 2), which provides elasticity and a neat edge. Row 1 of the lace pattern is worked as a wrong-side row, establishing the pattern direction.

Materials and Gauge

The Nigella cardigan is knitted using Rowan Big Wool Silk yarn, a luxurious blend combining wool and silk fibers. The pattern requires 6 to 9 balls of 100-gram yarn, depending on the size being made (the photographed sample was worked in Journal 708). The recommended needle sizes are 8mm (US 11) needles for the ribbed cuffs and 9mm (US 13) needles for the main lace sections. An 8mm circular needle, no longer than 70–80 cm depending on size, is used for picking up and working the cuff stitches in the round. The pattern is designed to achieve a tension of 10.5 stitches and 13 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over the lace pattern using the 9mm needles.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The Nigella cardigan is available in five sizes: small (to fit 81–86 cm bust), medium (91–97 cm), large (102–107 cm), extra-large (112–117 cm), and extra-extra-large (122–127 cm). The main body section measures approximately 28 to 56 centimeters in length depending on the size, with the lace pattern creating a sophisticated drape suitable for various occasions.