Catherine Cardigan - Knitting Pattern For Women in Willow & Lark Ramble

Catherine Cardigan Knitting Pattern – Willow & Lark Ramble (The Homestead Collection)

The Catherine Cardigan is a beautifully crafted women's knitting pattern from Willow & Lark, part of their Homestead Collection (2017). This intermediate-level pattern produces a slouchy, dramatic batwing cardigan distinguished by its rich cable detailing and an eye-catching scarf-like neck band. Worked flat and seamed, it is a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with cable techniques and want to create a statement garment with real texture and structure.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's cabled batwing cardigan with a relaxed, oversized silhouette. It features a generous fit across the body, batwing-style sleeves, and a distinctive scarf-like neck band. The design is available in six sizes to fit bust measurements ranging from 81 cm (32 in) to 107 cm (42 in), with actual finished measurements of 115 cm (45¼ in) to 143 cm (56¼ in) — reflecting the intentionally roomy, slouchy aesthetic of the design. Body length to back neck ranges from 61 cm to 66 cm, and sleeve seam lengths run from 30 cm to 32 cm.

Design Details and Style

The Catherine Cardigan makes a dramatic style statement through the combination of two distinct cable patterns on the body hem edge and a bold diagonal cable stitch worked across the scarf-like neck band. This interplay of textures gives the cardigan a sophisticated, artisan quality that sits beautifully within the rustic, natural aesthetic of the Homestead Collection. Suggested colourways from Willow & Lark include Limestone (shade 102) and Oxblood (shade 110), both of which complement the organic character of the wool yarn.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is worked from the hem upward, which allows knitters to easily adjust length before committing to the upper body shaping.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles, producing separate panels that are then joined together.
• Seamed finishing: The garment is assembled using seaming, a traditional construction method that adds structure and durability to the finished cardigan.
• Cable knitting: Two cable patterns appear on the body, worked across a 40-stitch cable panel measuring 12 cm (4¾ in) in width. A separate, bold diagonal cable stitch is used on the neck band, giving it its distinctive scarf-like character.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch: The main fabric of the cardigan is worked in stocking stitch, providing a smooth, classic base against which the cables stand out in high relief.
• Cable stitches: Two cable variations appear on the body hem edge, with a third diagonal cable pattern featured on the neck band. Cables are worked using a cable needle to cross stitches and create the characteristic twisted rope effect.
• Additional standard knitting stitches and techniques including alternate rows, decreases, and ribbing elements are referenced throughout the pattern instructions.

Materials

• Yarn: Willow & Lark Ramble — a 100% wool DK weight yarn, sold in 50 g (1¾ oz) balls. The pattern requires 13 to 16 balls depending on the size being knitted. The designer specifically recommends using Ramble to achieve a finished garment consistent with the pattern photographs, noting that fibre composition, weight, and twist all affect the final appearance.
• Needles: Two pairs of straight knitting needles are required — 3.25 mm (UK 10 / US 3) needles for the ribbing and border sections, and 4.00 mm (UK 8 / US 6) needles for the main fabric.
• Additional tools: A cable needle is required for working all cable sections throughout the pattern.