Capsicum Cardigan in Rowan Kidsilk Haze & Fine Lace - ZB298-00001-Capsicum Cardigan-FR - Downloadable PDF

Capsicum Cardigan by Lisa Richardson – Knitting Pattern Summary (Rowan Kidsilk Haze & Fine Lace)

The Capsicum Cardigan is an elegant, lace-weight knitted cardigan designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is crafted using a luxurious two-yarn combination that gives the finished garment a delicate, hazy drape characteristic of Rowan's finest lace-weight blends. The pattern is worked flat in pieces and features carefully shaped necklines, shoulder markers, and graduated shaping throughout the body.

What Is Being Made

The Capsicum Cardigan is a women's knitted cardigan worked in multiple sizes to fit a wide range of bust measurements. The pattern covers five size options:

• 81–86 cm (approximately 32–34 in)
• 91–97 cm (approximately 36–38 in)
• 102–107 cm (approximately 40–42 in)
• 112–117 cm (approximately 44–46 in)
• 122–127 cm (approximately 48–50 in)

The finished garment measurements include a garment bust ranging from 96.5 cm to 136.5 cm and a hip circumference of 105.5 cm to 136.5 cm depending on the chosen size, allowing for a relaxed, comfortable fit across the body.

Design Details and Construction

The Capsicum Cardigan features a shaped back neckline and a front neckline with carefully worked increases and decreases to create a smooth, flattering curve. The back neck shaping involves working a set number of stitches according to the established pattern, then turning and working each side of the neckline separately. Decreases are worked at the neck edge over a series of rows, producing a refined and well-fitted neckline.

Shoulder placement is indicated by row markers placed on either side of the last row, a technique that helps knitters align seams accurately during finishing. The front neckline shaping mirrors the back with its own series of increases and row-by-row shaping instructions, ensuring both front panels frame the neckline symmetrically.

The construction follows a classic set-in or drop-shoulder cardigan structure, with pieces worked flat and then seamed. This approach is well suited to the delicate lace-weight yarns used, as it allows the knitter to manage the fine fabric carefully and achieve clean, precise edges.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting – all pieces are worked back and forth in rows on a pair of straight needles
• Neckline shaping – both back and front necks are shaped using a combination of turning, placing stitches on hold, and working each side separately
• Decreasing – neck edge decreases are worked over multiple rows, including decreases at every right-side row and every alternate row
• Increasing – front neckline shaping includes increases worked at the end of specific rows to build the neckline curve
• Row markers – used to indicate shoulder lines for accurate seaming
• Working to established pattern – the body pattern is maintained consistently throughout shaping, requiring the knitter to keep track of the stitch pattern while simultaneously working shaping rows
• Holding stitches – stitches are left on hold while one side of the neckline is completed before returning to the remaining stitches

Stitches Used

While the PDF excerpt does not name every stitch pattern explicitly, the construction references established stitch patterns maintained throughout the shaping sections, indicating a textured or lace pattern forms the body fabric. The pattern also references right-side (endroit) and wrong-side (envers) rows, confirming that standard knit and purl stitches are used in combination. The lace-weight yarn pairing strongly suggests the inclusion of lace stitches such as yarn-overs and paired decreases, which are characteristic of Rowan designs worked in Kid