Rowan Teme Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Teme Cardigan by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Teme is a seamed knit cardigan designed by Martin Storey, available in five sizes ranging from small to extra-extra-large to fit bust measurements of 81–127 cm (32–50 inches). This garment is worked flat on straight needles and features a contemporary construction method where the body and sleeves are created as a single integrated piece from cuff to cuff, then seamed together during finishing.

Techniques Used

The Teme cardigan employs seamed construction as its primary assembly method, with sleeve seams joined from cuffs to marked positions using back stitch or mattress stitch. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward row-by-row shaping. Key shaping techniques include strategic increases and decreases worked at garment edges to create sleeve cap shaping and waist definition. The pattern incorporates marker placement to denote sleeve positions, enabling clear transitions between body and sleeve sections. A front band and collar are picked up and knit from the finished body using a circular needle, demonstrating the integration of multiple construction phases.

Stitches Used

The cardigan is primarily constructed in stockinette stitch (st st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for showcasing the brushed texture of the yarn. Ribbed detailing appears at the cuffs and throughout the front band and collar using a knit 2, purl 2 rib pattern (K2, P2), providing elasticity and a neat, finished edge. Increases and decreases are worked at regular intervals—including single decreases on specific rows and increases on alternating rows—to shape the sleeves and body proportions.

Materials

The Teme is designed to be worked in Rowan Brushed Fleece yarn, requiring 6, 6, 7, 7, or 8 balls of 50-gram weight depending on size selection (photographed in Den 261). The pattern calls for two pairs of needles: 5mm (US 8) needles for ribbed sections and initial cast-on, and 6mm (US 10) needles for the main stockinette stitch body and sleeves. A 5mm (US 8) circular needle measuring 100 cm long is required for picking up stitches for the front band and collar. The recommended tension is 13 stitches and 19 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using 6mm needles, ensuring proper fit and drape across all size ranges.