Catarina Cardigan in Rowan Summerlite DK & Kidsilk Haze - Downloadable PDF

Catarina Cardigan in Rowan Summerlite DK & Kidsilk Haze – Pattern Summary

The Catarina Cardigan is a beautifully understated knitted cardigan designed by Quail Studio and published by Rowan. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated as beginner level, making it an ideal project for knitters who are building confidence with garment construction. The design is worked in a classic, relaxed silhouette with a front button band and shaped neckline, resulting in a wearable, everyday cardigan with a soft, luxurious finish.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a classic open-front cardigan with a shaped front neck, defined shoulder shaping, and a button fastening. It is sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements, from 71–76 cm up to 152–157 cm (approximately 28–62 inches), making it genuinely inclusive in its sizing. The actual garment chest measurement ranges from 90.5 cm to 171.5 cm, offering generous ease across all sizes. The cardigan features a left front, right front, and back, each constructed separately and then joined. Seven buttons are used to fasten the finished garment.

Yarn and Materials

One of the most distinctive features of this pattern is its two-yarn held-together construction. Knitters work simultaneously with one strand of Rowan Summerlite DK and one strand of Rowan Kidsilk Haze, held together throughout. This combination creates a fabric that blends the structure and stitch definition of a DK-weight cotton yarn with the delicate halo and softness of a lace-weight mohair-silk blend.

• Rowan Summerlite DK in Cantaloupe 456 (50 g balls) — a lightweight, breathable DK yarn, ideal for warm-weather knitting
• Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Burnt Caramel 680 (25 g balls) — a delicate lace-weight yarn composed of kid mohair and silk, adding a subtle halo and warmth

The number of balls required varies by size. Summerlite DK ranges from 8 balls (smallest size) up to 17 balls (largest size), while Kidsilk Haze ranges from 5 to 11 balls. Together, these two yarns create a fabric with a gentle warmth and an ethereal, softly bloomed surface texture that elevates a simple stitch pattern into something visually refined.

Needles and Tension

The pattern calls for one pair of 4 mm (UK no. 8 / US 6) needles throughout. The recommended tension is 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm, measured over stocking stitch using both yarns held together. Achieving the correct tension is especially important in garment knitting, as it directly affects the finished measurements and fit across all nine size options. Knitters are advised to swatch carefully before beginning.

Techniques and Construction

The Catarina Cardigan is constructed in separate pieces — left front, right front, and back — which are later seamed together. This is a traditional flat-knitting approach well suited to beginner and intermediate knitters who are becoming familiar with garment shaping. Key techniques used throughout the pattern include:

• Stocking stitch (st st) — the primary stitch pattern, worked by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Neck shaping — achieved through paired decreases at the front neck edge, including K2tog (knit two together) on right-side rows and P2tog (purl two together) on wrong-side rows, worked on both immediate and alternate rows depending on size
• Shoulder shaping — worked by casting off stitches at the beginning of alternate rows in a stepped sequence, creating a neat, structured shoulder line
• Stitch holders — used to hold live stitches at the neck during shaping, a standard garment-making technique that keeps stitches accessible for later finishing
• Stitch markers