Ficus Cardigan in Rowan Tweed Haze - ZB325-00004-DEP - Downloadable PDF

Ficus Cardigan in Rowan Tweed Haze – Pattern Summary (ZB325-00004-DEP)

The Ficus Cardigan is a beautifully textured knitted cardigan designed by Georgia Farrell and published by Rowan. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a relaxed, cosy cardigan featuring a striking combination of a classic stocking stitch body and an eye-catching textured stitch pattern, worked in the luxurious Rowan Tweed Haze yarn. The design is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with shaping and working multiple stitch patterns simultaneously.

What Is Being Made

The Ficus Cardigan is a full-sized women's cardigan worked in separate pieces — a back, a left front, a right front, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. It features a neat front button band and is fastened with five wooden buttons, 2.2 cm in diameter, giving it a natural, earthy aesthetic that complements the tweedy character of the yarn. The finished garment has a generous, relaxed silhouette with a defined neckline and shaped armholes.

The pattern is available in nine sizes, fitting bust measurements from 71–76 cm up to 152–157 cm, with corresponding knitted bust measurements ranging from 84 cm to 166.5 cm, offering an inclusive range of fits with positive ease built in throughout.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Tweed Haze, a chunky weight yarn that combines the softness of a haze-style blend with the rustic, characterful texture of a tweed. The colourway shown in the pattern photography is Winter 550. Yarn quantities are given by size, ranging from 5 to 9 balls depending on the size being knitted, making this a relatively economical project given the chunky weight and the speed at which it works up.

• Yarn: Rowan Tweed Haze
• Colourway shown: Winter 550
• Weight: Chunky
• Quantity: 5–9 balls (size dependent)

Needles and Notions

The Ficus Cardigan is knitted using 6 mm straight knitting needles as the primary needle size throughout. A 6 mm circular needle, at least 100 cm in length, is also required — most likely for picking up and working the front button band around the neckline and front edges. Additionally, a cable needle or spare needle is referenced for holding stitches during construction.

• Primary needles: 6 mm straight knitting needles
• Circular needle: 6 mm, minimum 100 cm length
• Buttons: 5 wooden buttons, 2.2 cm diameter

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is essential for this pattern, and two separate tension squares are specified, reflecting the two distinct stitch patterns used in the cardigan:

• 14.5 stitches and 20 rows = 10 x 10 cm in stocking stitch using 6 mm needles
• 15 stitches and 20 rows = 10 x 10 cm in the textured pattern stitch using 6 mm needles

The slight difference in stitch count between the two tension swatches is worth noting — knitters should swatch in both stitch patterns before casting on to ensure accurate sizing across the garment.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Ficus Cardigan employs a combination of stitch patterns that give it its distinctive textured appearance. The main body sections are worked in a repeating textured pattern stitch that alternates blocks of knit and purl stitches in a structured sequence, creating a woven or basket-weave-like surface effect. This stitch pattern is worked over a 10-stitch repeat (5 knit, 5 purl) and shifts position every 6 rows, producing a bold, graphic texture that is well suited to