Rowan Sverre Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Sverre Cardigan by Arne & Carlos

What Is Being Made

The Rowan Sverre is a stranded colorwork cardigan designed by the renowned knitwear designers Arne & Carlos. This garment is a sophisticated piece featuring multiple color combinations worked into the fabric using traditional stranded knitting techniques. The cardigan is available in six different sizes, ranging from 81–86 cm to 132–137 cm chest measurements, making it suitable for a wide range of body types. The finished garment features button closures, with six buttons specified for the front opening.

Techniques Used

The Sverre cardigan employs several key knitting techniques to create its finished structure:

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing for easy adjustments and a traditional building method.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, creating separate front, back, and sleeve sections that are later seamed together.
• Stranded colorwork: The pattern incorporates stranded knitting, where multiple colors are carried across the back of the work to create intricate color patterns. This technique is worked entirely in stockinette stitch following a provided chart.
• Stripe patterning: In addition to the stranded colorwork chart, the design incorporates striped sections worked throughout the garment.
• Seamed construction: All pieces are sewn together using seaming techniques, creating clean, professional-looking seams along the sides, shoulders, and sleeves.
• Shaping techniques: The pattern includes armhole shaping achieved through cast-offs and decreases, as well as shoulder and neck shaping for a well-fitted garment.

Stitches Used

The Sverre cardigan is primarily constructed using fundamental knitting stitches:

• Stockinette stitch: The main fabric stitch throughout the garment, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, providing a smooth, classic appearance.
• Ribbing: Used for the front band and cuff sections, created with alternating knit and purl stitches (K2, P2 ribbing noted in the pattern) to provide elasticity and structure at the edges.

Materials

The Sverre cardigan is knitted using Rowan Alpaca Soft DK yarn, a lightweight double-knitting weight yarn that provides softness and drape to the finished garment. The pattern requires four coordinating colors:

• Yarn A – Marine Blue (shade 212): Required in quantities ranging from 4 to 6 x 50gm balls depending on size.
• Yarn B – Green Teal (shade 213): Required in quantities ranging from 4 to 6 x 50gm balls depending on size.
• Yarn C – Simply White (shade 201): Required in quantities ranging from 3 to 5 x 50gm balls depending on size.
• Yarn D – Charcoal (shade 211): Required in quantities ranging from 2 to 4 x 50gm balls depending on size.

The pattern is worked on 3¼mm (US 3) needles in a single needle size throughout. The cardigan is finished with six RW5030 buttons measuring 1.8mm, sourced from Bedecked.

Pattern Details

The back piece is cast on and worked in ribbing before transitioning to stockinette stitch and the stranded colorwork chart. Armhole shaping is incorporated through strategic cast-offs and decreases, with the number of stitches reduced varying by size. Shoulder and back neck shaping are worked simultaneously to create a well-proportioned neckline. The left front is constructed separately, beginning with a cast-on that varies by size and incorporating the same ribbing, colorwork, and shaping techniques as the back. This pattern represents a intermediate to advanced project suitable for knitters with experience in stranded colorwork and garment construction.