Smog Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Smog Cardigan in Rowan Fine Tweed Haze

What is Being Made

The Smog Cardigan is a sophisticated knitted cardigan designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan as pattern ZB366-00005-EN. This garment is a structured, patterned cardigan available in nine sizes to fit chest measurements ranging from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with finished chest measurements from 96 cm (37¾ in) to 178 cm (70 in). The cardigan features a classic button-front closure with six imitation horn buttons and is constructed with shaped front slopes and armhole shaping for a tailored fit.

Techniques Used

This advanced beginner knitting project employs several intermediate construction techniques. The cardigan is worked from charts with a repeating 16-row pattern throughout the main body pieces. Shaping is achieved through strategic decreasing at the front slope and armhole edges, with different decrease frequencies depending on the chosen size. The pattern requires careful attention to maintaining stitch pattern alignment while simultaneously executing decreases at multiple edges—a technique that demands intermediate skill and pattern-reading ability. The garment uses both flat knitting on straight needles and circular needle techniques, as evidenced by the inclusion of a long circular needle in the materials list.

Stitches Used

The Smog Cardigan is worked primarily in a charted stitch pattern that repeats over 16 rows. While the specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the provided pattern excerpt, the tension specification of 21 stitches and 29 rows to 10 cm indicates a relatively dense, structured fabric. The pattern incorporates decreasing techniques for shaping, including single-stitch decreases worked at regular intervals (every 4th, 6th, or alternate rows depending on size and shaping stage). Cast-on and cast-off techniques are fundamental to the construction, with cast-offs used for armhole shaping at the beginning of rows.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Smog Cardigan is knitted using Rowan Fine Tweed Haze, a yarn supplied in 50-gram balls. The pattern is photographed in the colorway Deep 002. Yardage requirements vary by size, with the smallest size requiring 6 balls and the largest requiring 11 balls, indicating approximately 258–473 meters of yarn depending on the finished size selected.

Needles and Notions: Construction requires one pair of 4mm (US 6) straight needles for the main body pieces and a 3¼mm (US 3) circular needle at least 130 cm long, likely used for ribbing, neckband, or button band work. Six buttons are specified: TGB4775 imitation horn buttons measuring 20mm in diameter, sourced from Textile Garden.

Tension and Fit

Achieving the correct tension is essential for this project. The pattern specifies 21 stitches and 29 rows to 10 cm measured over the charted pattern using 4mm (US 6) needles. This tension measurement should be taken after blocking to ensure accurate finished measurements. The cardigan is designed with multiple size options and includes detailed shaping instructions that vary by size, allowing for customization to individual measurements.