Flat Collar & Shawl Collar Cardigans in Hayfield Aran with Wool - 7065 - Downloadable PDF

Flat Collar & Shawl Collar Cardigans in Hayfield Aran with Wool – Pattern 7065

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Hayfield presents two classic cardigan designs in one versatile pattern: a Flat Collar Cardigan and a Shawl Collar Cardigan. Both garments are worked in Hayfield Aran with Wool, a premium aran-weight yarn that combines the warmth and structure of traditional aran knitting with the natural softness of wool. The pattern is generously sized, covering six sizes to fit bust and chest measurements from 81/86 cm (32/34 in) up to 132/137 cm (52/54 in), making it a truly inclusive design suitable for a wide range of knitters.

About the Two Designs

Flat Collar Cardigan

The Flat Collar Cardigan is a timeless, everyday wardrobe staple featuring a neat, flat-lying collar that frames the neckline cleanly without bulk. This style is ideal for layering over shirts or lightweight tops, lending a polished yet relaxed finish. It is knitted in Hayfield Aran with Wool shade 871, giving the finished garment a classic, neutral appeal. The flat collar construction is a traditional finishing technique in knitwear, typically worked by picking up stitches around the neckline and knitting a shallow, shaped band that lies flat against the chest and shoulders.

Shawl Collar Cardigan

The Shawl Collar Cardigan offers a cosier, more relaxed aesthetic with its deep, wraparound shawl collar — a design feature strongly associated with heritage knitwear traditions. The shawl collar adds extra warmth around the neck and chest, making this version particularly well-suited to cooler weather. It is knitted in Hayfield Aran with Wool shade 997. The shawl collar is typically constructed as a wide, folded band that is either knitted separately and sewn on, or worked by picking up stitches and shaping the collar to roll and drape naturally.

Sizing and Fit

Both cardigans are designed with a comfortable, classic fit. The actual finished measurements range from 91 cm (36 in) to 142 cm (56 in) across the chest, providing generous ease across all sizes. Full lengths range from 60 cm (23¾ in) in the smallest size to 73 cm (28¾ in) in the largest, while sleeve lengths run from 46 cm (18 in) to 51 cm (20 in) and are noted as adjustable, allowing knitters to customise the sleeve length to suit their individual preferences.

Techniques Used

As aran-weight cardigans, both designs are built around the rich textural tradition of aran knitting, a craft rooted in the intricate patterned knitwear of the Aran Islands. Key techniques featured in this pattern include:

• Cable knitting — the use of a cable needle to cross stitches over one another, creating the distinctive rope-like and lattice textures characteristic of aran fabric
• Ribbing — typically used at cuffs, hems, and button bands to create a neat, elasticated edge that retains its shape with wear
• Collar construction — each design features its own distinct collar finishing technique, either the flat collar or the shawl collar, both requiring careful shaping and neatening
• Shaping — armhole, sleeve, and neckline shaping are worked throughout both garments to achieve a well-fitted, structured silhouette
• Seaming — as a traditional knitted construction, the pieces are worked flat and then joined using standard seaming methods

Stitches Used

• Knit and purl stitches — the foundation of all aran fabric, used to create reverse stocking stitch backgrounds that make cable panels stand out in high relief
• Cable stitches — worked over varying numbers of stitches using a cable needle to create the signature twisted and crossed aran motifs
• Rib stitch — alternating knit and purl columns used for borders, cuffs, and bands