Rowan Whistler Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Whistler Cardigan by Lisa Richardson

What Is Being Made

The Whistler is a knitted cardigan designed by Lisa Richardson, available in five sizes ranging from small (81-86 cm bust) to extra-extra-large (122-127 cm bust). This is a classic button-front cardigan featuring prominent cable detailing and a structured, tailored fit suitable for everyday wear.

Knitting Techniques

This cardigan is constructed using bottom-up knitting, meaning the body is worked from the lower edge upward. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for easy seaming. The finished pieces are seamed together to create the final garment structure. This traditional construction method provides excellent shaping opportunities and is ideal for achieving precise fit and professional finishing.

Stitches and Cable Work

The Whistler showcases extensive cable work as a primary design feature. The pattern employs two main cable abbreviations: C4B (cable 4 back) and C4F (cable 4 front), which are created by slipping stitches onto a cable needle and crossing them over subsequent stitches. These cable crossings create the distinctive twisted rope texture that defines the cardigan's visual interest. The pattern integrates cables with reverse stockinette and stockinette stitch sections, creating a balanced design with both textured and smooth areas. The cable placement appears strategically positioned to flatter the body and draw attention to the center front and shoulder areas.

Materials and Gauge

The Whistler is knitted using Rowan Mohair Haze yarn in the photographed sample (colorway Hug 524). The yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 30 to 40 balls of 25-gram weight, providing approximately 750 to 1000 meters of yarn depending on the finished size. The pattern requires two sets of needles: 2¾mm (US 2) needles and 3mm (US 2/3) needles, allowing for ribbed edgings worked on the smaller needles and the main body worked on the slightly larger size. The recommended tension is 45 stitches and 41 rows to 10 centimeters measured over pattern using the 3mm needles. The cardigan is finished with 11 buttons (BN1800 from Bedecked), providing a classic closure suitable for the garment's tailored aesthetic.

Pattern Construction Details

The pattern demonstrates sophisticated stitch manipulation throughout, combining cable crosses with increases (M1P for make one purl) and decreases (P2tog for purl two together, and slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over). These shaping techniques are integrated seamlessly with the cable pattern, requiring careful attention to stitch counts at specific rows. The pattern shows multiple stitch count changes as shaping progresses, with rows ranging from 53 stitches to 57 stitches, indicating deliberate increases and decreases for garment shaping. The complexity of the pattern suggests this is suitable for intermediate to advanced knitters with experience working cables and managing multiple stitch manipulations simultaneously.