Calico Cardigan in Rowan Brushed Fleece - RTP004-0002-DEP - Downloadable PDF

Calico Cardigan in Rowan Brushed Fleece by Martin Storey – Pattern Summary

The Calico Cardigan is a beautifully crafted chunky-weight knitted cardigan designed by Martin Storey and published by Rowan. Available as a downloadable PDF (reference RTP004-0002-DEP), this pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and are ready to take on a structured garment with multiple components. The cardigan is photographed in Crag 253, a warm, textured colourway that showcases the depth and softness of the yarn beautifully.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a classic fitted cardigan worked in separate pieces — a back, two fronts, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. The finished garment features a shaped neckline with a back neck opening, shoulder shaping, and button fastening. The cardigan is designed to fit a wide range of bust measurements, offering nine sizes to suit busts from 71–76 cm up to 152–157 cm, with corresponding knitted bust measurements ranging from 92 cm to 174 cm. This generous size range makes the pattern highly inclusive and versatile.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Brushed Fleece, a luxurious chunky-weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. Brushed Fleece is known for its incredibly soft, fluffy halo — a result of its carefully brushed fibres — which gives finished garments a cosy, cloud-like texture. The yarn quantities required range from 7 balls for the smallest sizes up to 11 balls for the largest size, making it a relatively economical project given the chunky gauge.

In addition to yarn, knitters will need:

• Straight knitting needles in sizes 5 mm and 6 mm for the main body and ribbed edgings
• One long circular needle in size 6 mm, used for picking up and working the neckband or button bands
• Stitch holders or spare needles for holding stitches during neck and shoulder shaping
• 4 buttons for the cardigan front fastening

Tension and Gauge

The recommended tension for this pattern is 13 stitches and 21 rows to 10 × 10 cm, measured over the main stitch pattern using 6 mm needles. Achieving the correct gauge is especially important in a garment of this type, where even small variations can significantly affect the finished bust measurement and overall fit. Knitters are advised to work a tension swatch before beginning.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Calico Cardigan employs a combination of classic knitting stitches and standard garment construction techniques:

• 2×2 Rib (k2, p2 ribbing) — used for the welts and cuffs to create elasticated, neat edges. The rib is worked over multiple rows at the cast-on edge, alternating knit and purl stitches in a two-and-two sequence on both right-side and wrong-side rows.
• Main stitch pattern (Mst) — the body of the cardigan is worked in a defined main stitch pattern that forms the fabric of the back, fronts, and sleeves. The precise pattern repeat is detailed in the PDF instructions.
• Knit two together (k2tog) — a standard right-leaning decrease used extensively throughout the pattern for armhole shaping, shoulder shaping, and neckline shaping.
• Casting off (binding off) — used at armholes, shoulders, and neckline edges, including staggered cast-offs at the beginning of rows to create smooth, stepped shoulder shaping.
• Short-row shoulder shaping — the pattern uses a technique of working to a point, turning the work, and placing remaining stitches on a holder, creating a neat, angled shoulder line without the need for a three-needle cast-off.
• Picking up stitches — a circular needle is used to pick