Rowan Shoreditch Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Shoreditch Cardigan by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Shoreditch is a knitted cardigan designed by Martin Storey, available in five sizes ranging from Small to XXL to fit bust measurements of 81-127 cm. This garment features a sophisticated construction with integrated sleeves and a classic cardigan silhouette.

Construction and Techniques

The Shoreditch cardigan is worked using a bottom-up, sideways construction method. The left body and sleeve are worked first from the centre back, followed by the right body and sleeve, creating a seamed garment. All pieces are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for precise shaping and pattern placement.

The body sections are worked sideways, with sleeve cap shaping integrated into the main piece. Markers are placed to denote the top of the sleeve seam, and the pattern continues from the pick-up row until the desired length is achieved. The construction includes a transition to garter stitch at the neckline edge, worked over 11 rows before casting off.

Stitches and Pattern Details

This design features cable stitches as a primary design element. The pattern utilizes two main cable techniques:

• C4B (Cable 4 Back): Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and leave at back of work, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle
• C4F (Cable 4 Front): Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and leave at front of work, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle

The cable pattern repeats over 10 rows and is worked consistently throughout the body and sleeve sections. The pattern concludes with garter stitch (knit every row) at the edges, providing a clean, textured finish.

Materials and Needles

The Shoreditch cardigan is designed to be knitted using Rowan Super Fine Merino DK yarn. The pattern requires 12 to 17 balls of 50-gram yarn depending on size (photographed in the colorway Aubergine 150).

The project requires two needle sizes:

• 3¼mm (US 3) needles for ribbing and finishing edges
• 4mm (US 6) needles for the main body and cable pattern work
• A 3¼mm circular needle, no more than 90-130 cm long (depending on size), for picking up stitches
• A cable needle for working the cable stitches

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern is designed to achieve a tension of 27 stitches and 34 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over the cable pattern using 4mm (US 6) needles. Accurate gauge is essential for proper fit across all five sizes.

Finishing involves pressing the completed pieces as described in the pattern instructions, followed by seaming. Sleeve seams are joined using either back stitch or mattress stitch, connecting the row-end edges from the sleeve markers to the cast-off edges for a professional, durable finish.