Lawn Top in Rowan Cotton Trio - Downloadable PDF

Lawn Top in Rowan Cotton Trio – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Lawn Top is a beautifully considered summer knit designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern produces a lightweight, fitted top worked in the brand's breathable Cotton Trio yarn. The design is rated advanced beginner, making it an ideal next step for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to tackle simple shaping and construction techniques.

What Is Being Made

The pattern creates a classic pullover-style top with a shaped front neck opening. The garment is constructed in separate pieces — a back and a front — which are worked flat and then seamed together. The front features a carefully shaped neckline, worked by dividing stitches and decreasing on each side of the neck independently to create a neat, tailored finish. The top is sized generously across a wide range, fitting chest measurements from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with actual garment chest measurements ranging from 101 cm to 183.5 cm, offering a comfortable fit across nine sizes.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting – both the back and front pieces are worked back and forth in rows
• Neck shaping – stitches are divided at the front neck, with remaining stitches placed on a holder while each side is worked separately
• Decreasing – single decreases are worked at the neck edge on consecutive rows and then on alternate rows to shape the neckline smoothly
• Shoulder shaping – the back and front are coordinated so that shoulder shaping begins at the correct row relative to the neck shaping
• Pattern keeping – knitters are instructed to keep the stitch pattern correct throughout shaping, a useful skill-building technique for advancing beginners
• Seaming – the finished pieces are joined using standard seaming methods

Stitches Used

• The pattern references a stitch pattern (patt) worked throughout the body, consistent with the textural detailing typical of Lisa Richardson's designs for Rowan
• Standard knit and purl stitches form the foundation of the fabric
• Decrease stitches are used during neck shaping to reduce stitch counts neatly on right-side rows and alternate rows

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The Lawn Top is knitted in Rowan Cotton Trio, a 4 ply weight yarn sold in 50 g balls. The sample shown in the pattern photography is worked in Caramel 112, a warm, neutral shade that highlights the delicate stitch texture beautifully. Depending on size, the pattern requires between 5 and 11 balls of Cotton Trio, with smaller sizes needing fewer and the largest sizes requiring the most. As a 4 ply cotton yarn, Cotton Trio is well suited to warm-weather knitting, producing a fine, cool, and drapey fabric that is ideal for a summer top. Knitters should refer to the pattern for the specific needle size recommended to achieve the correct tension.

Who Is This Pattern For

The Lawn Top is perfect for advanced beginner knitters who are comfortable with basic knit and purl stitches and are ready to practise garment shaping. The wide size range makes it an inclusive pattern suitable for many body types, and the use of fine 4 ply cotton gives the finished top a professional, boutique feel. Designed by Lisa Richardson for Rowan, it carries the hallmark of thoughtful, wearable design that the brand is known for.