Olive Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Cashmere - RM004-00003-DE - Downloadable PDF

Olive Cardigan by Chloe Thurlow – Rowan Cotton Cashmere Pattern (RM004-00003-DE)

The Olive Cardigan is a beautifully refined women's knitted cardigan designed by Chloe Thurlow for Rowan, worked in the luxurious Rowan Cotton Cashmere yarn. Published as a downloadable PDF (pattern reference RM004-00003-DE), this design is rated intermediate in difficulty and is an elegant addition to any handknitter's wardrobe. The pattern is written in German, making it an ideal resource for German-speaking knitters seeking a sophisticated, wearable layering piece.

What Is Being Made

The Olive Cardigan is a classic open-front or button-up cardigan designed to suit a range of bust sizes. The garment is knitted in DK weight yarn and is photographed in Dark Olive 218, a rich, muted tone that gives the design its name. The cardigan is constructed with a clever seamless approach: the back and front pieces are knitted together in one piece up to the armholes, reducing seaming and creating a smooth, professional finish. This construction method is particularly appealing to knitters who prefer minimal finishing work.

Sizes Available

The pattern is graded across five sizes, designed to fit bust measurements of:

• 81–86 cm
• 91–97 cm
• 102–107 cm
• 112–117 cm
• 122–127 cm

The corresponding knitted bust measurements (with ease) are 96, 106, 116, 126, and 136 cm respectively, offering a comfortable, relaxed fit across all sizes.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs a range of classic and intermediate knitting techniques that make it both instructive and rewarding to work through:

• Seamless construction – the back and front sections are cast on together and worked as a single piece to the armholes, a technique that simplifies finishing and ensures consistent fabric tension throughout the body.
• Circular knitting – worked on circular needles, allowing the large stitch count of the body to be managed comfortably.
• Fold line / turning ridge – Row 5 is worked as a knit row on the wrong side to create a Bruchlinie (fold line), a neat technique often used at hems or facings to create a clean, crisp edge when the fabric is folded.
• Lace or decorative decrease patterning – the pattern includes structured repeat rows featuring yarn-overs (Umschlag / U), left-leaning decreases (übzAbn), and right-leaning decreases (2 M re zus-str), which together create a delicate textural or lace-effect detail within the fabric.
• Needle size changes – the pattern transitions from 3¼ mm needles to 4 mm needles at a defined point in the construction, a common technique used to create a tighter ribbed or border section before moving into the main body fabric.
• Repeat rows – a defined set of pattern rows (Rows 35 to 38) are repeated as required, a standard technique in structured stitch patterns that builds rhythm and consistency for the knitter.

Stitches Used

The Olive Cardigan incorporates the following stitches and stitch techniques:

• Knit stitch (M re) – the foundation stitch used throughout the main fabric.
• Purl stitch (li) – used on wrong-side rows to create a smooth stockinette fabric.
• Yarn over (U / Umschlag) – used to create decorative eyelets and to compensate for decreases in the lace-effect pattern rows.