Tate Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Tate Cardigan in Rowan Summerlite 4ply

What is Being Made

The Tate Cardigan is a knitted cardigan garment designed to fit bust measurements ranging from 71–76 cm up to 142–147 cm, with finished garment bust measurements from 100 cm to 180 cm. This intermediate-level project is crafted from Rowan Summerlite 4ply yarn, a lightweight option ideal for warmer seasons. The cardigan features a structured construction with a folded hem detail and fairisle patterning throughout the body.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several key knitting techniques to create its finished design:

• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The primary fabric structure used throughout the cardigan body, creating a smooth, classic knit appearance.
• Fairisle Technique: A colorwork method integrated into the main fabric, worked from charts with instructions to work right-to-left on right-side rows and left-to-right on wrong-side rows for proper pattern placement.
• Hem Construction: A folded hem created by knitting stockinette stitch for 35 rows, then purling the stitches together with matching stitches from the cast-on edge to secure the fold.
• Shaping: Decreases at the front neck edge worked on set intervals (varying by size from every 6th to every 10th row) to create the cardigan's neckline.

Stitches Used

The Tate Cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with colorwork:

• Knit Stitch (K): Forms the base of the stockinette stitch fabric.
• Purl Stitch (P): Used for the wrong-side rows of stockinette stitch and for the hem-securing row.
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to shape the front neck edge.
• Fairisle Colorwork: Two-color pattern work integrated into stockinette stitch rows using a repeating chart (rows 1–72), creating a decorative pattern across the body of the garment.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: Rowan Summerlite 4ply is used for this project. The pattern calls for two colors:

• Yarn A – Navy Ink (color 429): 7–11 balls of 50-gram skeins, depending on size.
• Yarn B – Seashell (color 437): 3–6 balls of 50-gram skeins, depending on size.

Rowan Summerlite 4ply is a lightweight, smooth yarn suitable for warm-weather garments, providing drape and breathability.

Needles: One pair of 3mm (US 2/3) needles is required. The pattern notes that due to the large stitch count, knitters may prefer to use a circular needle worked backwards and forwards in rows rather than straight needles.

Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 28 stitches and 36 rows over stockinette stitch and fairisle pattern using 3mm (US 2/3) needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for the cardigan to fit as intended across all size options.