Aries in MODE at Rowan Colourmix - Downloadable PDF

Aries Cardigan by Quail Studio – Mode at Rowan Colourmix Knitting Pattern

The Aries is a beautifully textured knitted cardigan designed by Quail Studio and published as part of the Mode at Rowan Colourmix collection. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated advanced beginner, making it an excellent next step for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to work with shaping and textured stitch patterns. The design is photographed in Blush Pinks 10105, showcasing the soft, blended tones that Rowan Colourmix yarn is known for.

What Is Being Made

The Aries pattern produces a classic button-front cardigan with a shaped front slope and a structured ribbed body. The garment is worked in separate pieces — back and fronts — and features a neat, close-fitting silhouette with a subtle textural stitch pattern throughout. Four buttons fasten the front opening, adding a polished, wearable finish suitable for everyday wear or smart-casual occasions.

The cardigan is offered in nine sizes, designed to fit bust measurements ranging from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with actual garment bust measurements spanning 95 cm to 175 cm. This generous size range makes the pattern highly inclusive and accessible to a wide range of knitters.

Techniques Used

• Casting on with a standard cast-on method using 4.5mm needles
• Needle changes between 4.5mm and 5mm needles to create a neat, firmer rib border before transitioning to the main fabric
• Increasing at specific points to achieve the correct stitch count before beginning the main pattern
• Front slope shaping using decreases worked at the neck edge on alternating and every-fourth or sixth rows, depending on the size being knitted
• Picking up stitches along button and neck bands using a 4.5mm circular needle at least 80 cm long
• Reading multi-size pattern instructions, with figures for each of the nine sizes presented in sequence — a key skill for advancing knitters

Stitches Used

Mistake Rib Pattern

The primary stitch used throughout the body of the Aries cardigan is the mistake rib, a cleverly offset variation of standard 2×2 rib. In conventional 2×2 rib, knit and purl stitches align perfectly to create defined vertical columns. In mistake rib, the pattern is shifted by one stitch, so the sequence reads K2, P2 to the last three stitches, then K2, P1 on right-side rows, with the reverse on wrong-side rows. This deliberate "mistake" creates a fabric that is slightly more fluid and elastic than standard rib, with a subtle, attractive texture that lies flatter and drapes more softly. It is an ideal stitch for a fitted cardigan body as it provides natural stretch while maintaining structure.

Standard 2×2 Rib

The lower back section begins with a standard 2×2 rib — alternating K2, P2 — worked over approximately 8 cm before the needle change and transition into the mistake rib pattern. This creates a firm, tidy lower edge that prevents the cardigan from flaring or rolling.

• Knit stitch (K)
• Purl stitch (P)
• 2×2 rib – for lower borders and cuffs
• Mistake rib – for the main body fabric

Materials

Yarn

The pattern calls for Rowan Colourmix, a 50g yarn, with quantities ranging from 12 to 23 balls depending on the size being knitted. The sample garment is worked in Blush Pinks 10105. Rowan Colourmix is a