Jourdon Cardigan in Rowan Alpaca Classic - RM007-00005-DEP - Downloadable PDF

Jourdon Cardigan in Rowan Alpaca Classic – Pattern Summary

The Jourdon Cardigan is a beautifully relaxed, everyday knitted cardigan designed by Quail Studio and worked in Rowan Alpaca Classic yarn. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated as beginner difficulty, making it an ideal project for newer knitters looking to build confidence while producing a polished, wearable garment. The design is offered in two length options — a longer version and a shorter version — giving knitters flexibility to tailor the silhouette to their personal style. Both versions are photographed in the pattern: the longer version in Snowflake White 115 and the shorter version in Foliage Green 110.

Sizes and Fit

The Jourdon Cardigan is designed to fit a wide range of body measurements, accommodating nine sizes based on actual bust measurements:

• 71–76 cm, 81–86 cm, 91–97 cm, 102–107 cm, 112–117 cm, 122–127 cm, 132–137 cm, 142–147 cm, and 152–157 cm

The knitted finished bust measurements range from 112 cm up to 193.5 cm, indicating a generous, relaxed ease throughout — characteristic of a comfortable, open-front cardigan style. The longer version finished lengths range from 34 to 58 cm, and the shorter version from 24 to 46 cm, depending on size.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Alpaca Classic, a luxuriously soft DK weight yarn sold in 25 g balls. The yarn is worked double throughout — meaning two strands are held together at all times — which creates a denser, warmer fabric with excellent stitch definition while keeping the knitting process straightforward and quick. The quantity required varies by size and version, ranging from a small number of balls for the shortest, smallest size up to more for the largest, longest version.

Needles Required

• 4.5 mm straight or standard knitting needles — used for the ribbed welts and borders
• 5 mm straight or standard knitting needles — used for the main body fabric
• One 4.5 mm circular needle, at least 140 cm long — used for picking up and working the front bands or neckband

Tension and Gauge

The stated tension for this pattern is 22 stitches and 22 rows to 10 x 10 cm, measured over the main stitch pattern using 5 mm needles and yarn held double. Achieving the correct tension is important for ensuring the finished cardigan matches the intended measurements, and knitters are encouraged to work a tension swatch before beginning.

Construction and Techniques

The Jourdon Cardigan is worked in separate flat pieces — a back, a left front, and a right front — which are then seamed together. This classic construction method is well-suited to beginner knitters as it breaks the project into manageable sections. Key construction techniques used in this pattern include:

• Casting on — a large number of stitches are cast on for the back piece, establishing the full width of the garment
• Ribbing — the lower welts are worked in a 1x1 rib (alternating knit 1, purl 1) for approximately 10 cm, providing stretch and a neat, structured hem
• Decrease rows — after the ribbed welt, a decrease row is worked to reduce the stitch count before transitioning to the main stitch pattern, shaping the garment subtly at the waist
• Shoulder shaping — simple cast-off shaping is used at the shoulders, worked over a small number of rows by binding off stitches at the beginning of right-side and wrong-side rows
• Seaming — the finished pieces are joined using standard seaming methods

Stitches Used