Snug Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Revive - Downloadable PDF

Snug Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Revive by Lisa Richardson – Crochet Pattern Summary

The Snug Cardigan is a beautifully crafted crochet cardigan designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern produces a relaxed, cosy cardigan with a generous, wearable silhouette. It is rated as an intermediate skill level project, making it an excellent choice for crocheters who are comfortable with basic stitches and are ready to work with shaping, stitch patterns, and garment construction techniques.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a women's crochet cardigan — the Snug Cardigan — designed to be worn as a comfortable, everyday layering piece. The garment features a classic open-front cardigan silhouette and is finished with a decorative pin or brooch as a closure, adding a stylish, understated detail. The pattern is sized across a wide range, fitting chest measurements from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with nine sizes in total, and actual garment chest measurements ranging from 92.5 cm (36½ in) to 174 cm (68½ in).

Yarn and Materials

The cardigan is worked in Rowan Cotton Revive, a sport weight yarn sold in 100g balls. The sample shown in the pattern photography is crocheted in Wash 007, a specific colourway from the Cotton Revive range. The quantity of yarn required varies by size, ranging from 4 to 8 balls depending on the size being made. Cotton Revive is a sustainable, recycled cotton yarn, making this project an appealing option for crafters who value eco-conscious materials. Its smooth texture and stitch definition make it well suited to textured crochet stitch patterns.

Crochet Hooks

Two crochet hook sizes are used in this pattern:

• 3.50mm (no 9 / US E4) crochet hook — typically used for borders, edgings, or tighter-tension sections
• 4.00mm (no 8 / US G6) crochet hook — the primary hook used for the main body of the cardigan

Using two hook sizes is a common technique in garment crochet to ensure that edgings and finishing details have a neater, more structured appearance compared to the main fabric.

Tension

The stated tension for this pattern is 20 stitches to 12 cm and 15 rows to 10 cm, measured over the stitch pattern using the 4.00mm (US G6) crochet hook. Achieving the correct tension is essential when making a fitted garment such as this cardigan, as it directly affects the final measurements and fit across all nine sizes.

Techniques Used

The Snug Cardigan employs a range of intermediate crochet construction and shaping techniques, including:

• In-pattern shaping — increases are worked at each end of specified rows and are incorporated into the established stitch pattern, requiring the crocheter to maintain pattern continuity while adding stitches
• Sleeve shaping — gradual increases are worked at regular intervals (every 6th, 8th, or 10th row depending on size) to shape the sleeve from cuff to underarm
• Armhole shaping — armholes are defined using markers, with the armhole opening measuring approximately 22.5 cm to 33.5 cm depending on size
• Shoulder shaping using slip stitches — shoulders are shaped by working slip stitches across the beginning of rows and leaving stitches unworked at the end of rows, creating a stepped, angled shoulder line across multiple rows
• Back neck shaping — the back neck is shaped separately after shoulder shaping, a standard technique in garment construction to create a comfortable neckline fit
• Turning and working in rows — the garment is worked flat in rows throughout, with right-side and wrong-side rows clearly indicated
• Stitch pattern repeats — the main