Cosmo in MODE at Rowan Colourmix - Downloadable PDF

Cosmo Cardigan by Quail Studio – Knitting Pattern Summary (Mode at Rowan Colourmix)

Cosmo is a knitted cardigan pattern designed by Quail Studio, published as a downloadable PDF under the Mode at Rowan brand. It is worked in Colourmix yarn by Mode at Rowan and features a sophisticated combination of ribbing, stocking stitch, and a striking cable panel, making it an excellent project for advanced beginner knitters who are ready to explore cabling techniques for the first time or build on existing skills.

What Is Being Made

Cosmo is a cardigan with a structured front opening edge. The garment is generously sized, with an actual chest measurement ranging from 125.5 cm (49½ in) to 208 cm (82 in), covering a wide range of body sizes from a 71–76 cm (28–30 in) chest up to a 152–157 cm (60–62 in) chest across nine size options. The design was photographed in Olive Greens 10103, showcasing the rich, blended tonal quality of the Colourmix yarn.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Mode at Rowan Colourmix, a 50 g ball weight yarn. Quantities range from 15 balls for the smallest size up to 26 balls for the largest size.
• Needles: One pair of 5 mm (UK No. 6 / US 8) straight needles.
• Extras: A cable needle is required for working the cable panel.

Tension

The pattern is worked to a tension of 18 stitches and 24 rows to 10 cm measured over stocking stitch using 5 mm needles. The cable panel measures 6 cm over 12 stitches. Achieving correct tension is important to ensure the garment fits as intended across the full range of sizes.

Techniques Used

• Casting on a large number of stitches to begin each piece of the garment.
• Ribbing – a K3, P2 rib (knit 3, purl 2) is used at the lower edges and forms the foundational texture of the back and fronts before transitioning into the main body fabric.
• Stocking stitch (st st) – the main body fabric of the cardigan, worked in the classic knit on right side, purl on wrong side method.
• Cabling – a prominent 12-stitch cable panel is worked along the front opening edge of the left front, with the cable cross repeated on every 24th row. This creates a bold, rope-like vertical feature that frames the cardigan's front.
• Shaping – stitch increases and decreases are worked at various points to shape the body, with stitch count adjustments made across rib sections at the end of the ribbing to transition smoothly into the main pattern.
• Kfb (knit into front and back) – a simple increase technique used to add one stitch without creating a visible hole, used during shaping sections.

Stitches Used

• K3, P2 Rib – a five-stitch repeat rib used at cast-on edges and along side panels of the fronts.
• Stocking Stitch – the primary body stitch, smooth on the right side and textured on the wrong side.
• C12B (Cable 12 Back) – slip the next 6 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the back of the work, knit 6 stitches, then knit the 6 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a right-leaning cable cross.
• C12F (Cable 12 Front) – slip the next 6 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the front of the work, knit 6 stitches, then knit the 6 stitches from the cable needle