Connie Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Cashmere & Kidsilk Haze - Downloadable PDF

Connie Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Cashmere & Kidsilk Haze – Pattern Summary

The Connie Cardigan is a beautifully textured knitted cardigan designed by Quail Studio and published by Rowan. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated as beginner level, making it an excellent project for those who are relatively new to garment knitting but ready to explore simple stitch patterning beyond plain stockinette. The design is worked in a classic, relaxed silhouette with a structured ribbed hem and cuffs, a striking basket weave body, and a neat neckband finish.

What Is Being Made

The Connie Cardigan is a full cardigan featuring a back, a left front, and a right front, with shaped shoulders and a back neck. The pattern includes instructions for nine sizes, fitting actual chest measurements ranging from approximately 94.5 cm (37¼ in) up to 174.5 cm (68¾ in), making it a genuinely inclusive pattern with a wide size range. The garment is designed with a generous, relaxed ease, and the construction is straightforward and well-suited to beginner knitters building confidence with shaping and pattern repeats.

Yarn Used

The Connie Cardigan is knitted holding two strands of yarn together throughout — one strand of Rowan Cotton Cashmere and one strand of Rowan Kidsilk Haze worked simultaneously. This combination creates a fabric that is both structured and softly haloed, blending the crispness of cotton with the delicate, airy quality of kid mohair and silk.

• Rowan Cotton Cashmere in shade Linen 211 — a DK weight yarn, sold in 50g balls. Quantities range from 11 balls (smallest size) up to 22 balls (largest size).
• Rowan Kidsilk Haze in shade Pearl 590 — a lace weight yarn with a luxurious mohair-and-silk composition, sold in 25g balls. Quantities range from 7 balls (smallest size) up to 13 balls (largest size).

Holding a DK weight yarn together with a lace weight mohair yarn is a popular technique in Rowan patterns. The Kidsilk Haze adds a soft halo and subtle sheen to the finished fabric without significantly altering the drape, while the Cotton Cashmere provides body, stitch definition, and breathability — ideal for a cardigan that transitions between seasons.

Needles and Notions

• 3.25mm (US 3) needles — used for the ribbed welts and cuffs
• 4mm (US 6) needles — used for the main basket weave body sections
• 4mm (US 6) circular needle, at least 120 cm in length — used for picking up and working the neckband
• Stitch holders and stitch markers are also required

Tension

The pattern calls for a tension of 20 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm, measured over basket weave stitch using 4mm needles and holding one strand of each yarn together. As always with garment knitting, achieving the correct tension swatch before beginning is strongly recommended to ensure accurate sizing.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Connie Cardigan uses a small but satisfying selection of stitches and techniques that are well within reach of a beginner knitter:

• Rib stitch (K1, P1) — worked on smaller needles at the lower edges and cuffs to create a neat, elasticated border. The rib section is worked for approximately 2 cm before transitioning to the main pattern.
• Basket weave stitch — the primary