Floss Cardigan in Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply & Kidsilk Haze - RM004-00013-UK - Downloadable PDF

Floss Cardigan in Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply & Kidsilk Haze – Pattern Summary

The Floss Cardigan is a beautifully delicate knitted cardigan designed by Quail Studio for Rowan, available as a downloadable PDF (pattern reference RM004-00013-UK). This design combines two complementary Rowan yarns to create a lightweight, airy fabric with a soft, hazy finish — making it an ideal warm-weather or transitional-season layer. The pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it well-suited to knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and working with fine-weight yarns.

What Is Being Made

The Floss Cardigan is a classic open-front or structured cardigan silhouette worked in a fine, elegant fabric. It is designed with a generous, relaxed fit — the actual bust measurement of the finished garment ranges from 159 cm (62½ in) up to 199 cm (78¼ in), offering five sizes to fit busts of 81–86 cm up to 122–127 cm (32–34 in to 48–50 in). This ease-forward construction gives the cardigan a graceful, draped quality that flatters a wide range of body types.

Yarns and Materials

This pattern calls for two Rowan yarns used together to achieve its signature softness and subtle halo effect:

• Yarn A – Rowan Summerlite 4 Ply: A 4 ply weight yarn, used in quantities of 9 to 11 x 50 g balls depending on size. The photographed sample uses the shade Pure White 417. Summerlite 4 Ply is a crisp, breathable yarn known for its smooth stitch definition, making it ideal for fine-gauge knitting.
• Yarn B – Rowan Kidsilk Haze: A lace weight yarn, used in quantities of 8 to 10 x 25 g balls depending on size. The photographed sample uses the shade White 612. Kidsilk Haze is a luxurious blend of kid mohair and silk, renowned for its gossamer halo and incredible softness. When held alongside a 4 ply yarn, it adds warmth, depth, and a romantic, ethereal quality to the fabric.

Working these two yarns together — a technique often referred to as held double or combination knitting — is central to the character of the Floss Cardigan. The Summerlite 4 Ply provides structure and stitch clarity, while the Kidsilk Haze wraps the fabric in a soft, blurred haze that gives the garment its distinctive, cloud-like appearance.

Needles are specified within the pattern to achieve the correct tension for this yarn combination.

Techniques Used

The Floss Cardigan incorporates several knitting techniques that place it firmly in the intermediate skill level category:

• Short-row shaping: The pattern makes extensive use of short rows, as evidenced by the detailed row-by-row instructions featuring the wrap next stitch and turn method. This technique is used to create shaped sections — such as shoulder shaping or curved hems — without casting off stitches, resulting in smooth, seamless contours in the finished fabric.
• Wrap and turn (W&T): A specific short-row method in which the working yarn is wrapped around the next stitch before turning the work, preventing holes or gaps at the turning point. Knitters will need to be comfortable picking up wraps on subsequent rows to maintain a neat finish.
• Garment shaping and sizing: The pattern is written across five sizes with bracketed stitch counts throughout, requiring knitters to identify and follow their chosen size consistently.
• Working with fine and lace weight yarns: Managing two strands of fine yarn simultaneously — one smooth and one with a mohair halo — requires care and attention, particularly to maintain even tension throughout the project.

Stitches Used

The construction of the Floss Card