Rusholme Cardigan

Rusholme Cardigan by Laura Chau

What is Being Made

The Rusholme Cardigan is a cozy, everyday zippered cardigan designed by Laura Chau. This seamless raglan cardigan features a relaxed yet flattering silhouette with optional patch pockets and a distinctive long sailor collar. The garment is available in sizes ranging from 28 inches to 59 inches finished bust measurement, making it adaptable for various body types and fit preferences. The cardigan can be worn closed with a one or two-way zipper, worn open, or fastened with toggles, offering versatile styling options for different occasions and weather conditions.

Construction Method

Rusholme is worked as a seamless raglan construction, beginning from the bottom and working upward. The body is knit flat on straight needles or circular needles used flat, while the sleeves are worked in the round using circular needles or double-pointed needles. This hybrid approach combines the ease of flat knitting for the body with the efficiency of circular knitting for the sleeves, eliminating the need for seaming while maintaining clean stitch definition. The waist shaping is strategically worked on the back panel only, creating a subtle contour that flatters the wearer without adding unnecessary complexity to the knitting process. This intermediate-level construction technique allows knitters to create a garment with professional shaping and structure.

Stitches and Details

The primary stitch pattern featured throughout Rusholme is seed stitch, a textured stitch that creates a bumpy, woven appearance. Seed stitch is worked by alternating knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard pattern, and it is used prominently on the cardigan for visual interest and texture. The deep cuffs, front edges, and long sailor collar are all finished with attached I-cord, a technique where a small cord is knitted directly onto the edge of the garment as you work. This attached I-cord creates a clean, professional, and decorative finish that frames the cardigan beautifully and prevents curling at the edges. The I-cord edging adds both functional durability and aesthetic refinement to the design.

Fit and Sizing Options

The Rusholme Cardigan is designed with flexibility in mind regarding fit. Knitters can choose to work the pattern with negative ease, meaning the finished bust measurement is smaller than the wearer's actual bust measurement, creating a close and fitted silhouette. Alternatively, knitters can select a larger size for extra coziness and a more relaxed, oversized fit. The pattern recommends measuring a favorite sweater to determine the best size, rather than relying on standard body measurements. The sample shown in the pattern was knit in the 40-inch size with approximately 2 inches of negative ease, demonstrating how the cardigan drapes and fits when worked slightly smaller than the intended wearer's measurements.

Materials Required

Rusholme is worked in chunky weight yarn, a thick yarn that creates quick, satisfying progress and a cozy, substantial fabric. Chunky yarn is ideal for creating the textured seed stitch details and the chunky I-cord edging that define this design. The yarn requirements vary by size, with larger sizes requiring more yardage. Knitters will need appropriate needles for chunky weight yarn, typically in larger sizes such as US 9–11 or larger, depending on the desired gauge and yarn characteristics. Circular needles are recommended for working the seamless raglan construction, with both straight or circular needles used flat for the body and circular needles worked in the round for the sleeves.

Difficulty Level

The Rusholme Cardigan is rated as an intermediate knitting project. While the seamless raglan construction and waist shaping require some experience and understanding of garment construction, the straightforward stitch patterns and clear shaping make it accessible to knitters who have completed several projects. The combination of flat and in-the-round knitting, along with the attached I-cord finishing technique, provides an excellent opportunity for intermediate knitters to expand their skills and create a polished, wearable garment.

Designer and Pattern Source

The Rusholme Cardigan is designed by Laura Chau, an independent knitwear designer. The pattern has been technically edited by Alexandra Virgiel, ensuring accuracy and clarity for knitters. This downloadable PDF pattern is available directly from Laura Chau's design collection, providing knitters with immediate access to detailed instructions and schematics for creating their own Rusholme Cardigan.