Pepper Cardigan in Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply - RM004-00005-UK - Downloadable PDF

Pepper Cardigan by Georgia Farrell – Pattern Summary (Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply)

The Pepper Cardigan is a women's knitted cardigan designed by Georgia Farrell and published by Rowan (pattern reference RM004-00005-UK). It is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated at Skill Level 2, making it suitable for intermediate knitters who are comfortable following charted stitch patterns and working basic shaping techniques. The design is photographed in two colourways — Pepperpot 431 and Ecru 436 — giving knitters a clear sense of how the finished fabric looks in both a warm terracotta tone and a classic neutral.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a women's cardigan with a structured silhouette. It is worked in pieces and features shoulder shaping, a garter stitch border, and a repeating charted stitch pattern across the body. The garment is designed to fit a range of bust sizes, from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) up to 122–127 cm (48–50 in), with actual garment bust measurements spanning 114 cm (45 in) to 154 cm (60¾ in), providing generous positive ease across all sizes.

Construction and Techniques

The Pepper Cardigan is constructed using traditional flat knitting methods, with separate pieces worked back and forth on straight needles before being seamed together. Key construction techniques include:

• Garter stitch border: Each piece opens with 11 rows of garter stitch, establishing a neat, non-rolling edge before the main pattern begins.
• Charted stitch pattern: The body fabric is worked from a written chart, with rows repeated in specific sequences — for example, chart rows 1 to 12 are worked three times, followed by rows 13 to 18, then rows 19 to 30 worked twice. Knitters must keep the pattern correct throughout all shaping.
• Shoulder shaping: Shoulders are shaped using a series of cast-off rows at the beginning of right-side and wrong-side rows, with stitch counts varying by size (for example, casting off 4 to 6 stitches over multiple rows, followed by 5 to 7 stitches over further rows). A single stitch is left on a holder at the back neck, a detail typical of neat shoulder and neckline finishing.
• Left Front construction: The left front is cast on separately (68 to 92 stitches depending on size) and follows the same chart-based pattern as the back, with shaping worked to match.
• Circular needle for finishing: A 3 mm circular needle at least 100 cm long is specified, most likely for picking up and working the button band, neckband, or front border — a common technique for cardigans that allows a large number of stitches to be held comfortably.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch – worked as the border on each piece, creating a firm, flat, reversible fabric.
• Stocking stitch (implied as base fabric) – standard knit and purl rows form the foundation of the charted pattern sections.
• Charted pattern stitches – the repeating motif worked from the Rowan chart, which defines the decorative texture or colourwork of the cardigan body.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply, a lightweight yarn in the 4 ply weight category. This yarn is known for its smooth, breathable qualities, making the Pepper Cardigan well suited to warmer seasons or layering. The quantity required is 6 to 8 balls of 50 g, depending on the size being knitted.

Needles Required

• 1 pair of 3 mm (UK no. 11 / US 2/3) straight needles – used for knitting the main pieces flat.
• 1 x 3 mm (UK no. 11 / US 2/3) circular needle