Swan Cardigan in Rowan Creative Linen - Downloadable PDF

Swan Cardigan in Rowan Creative Linen – Pattern Summary

About This Design

The Swan Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Lisa Richardson and published by Rowan (pattern reference ZB374-00013-EN). It is a classic, structured cardigan worked in a two-colour design, featuring a charted stitch pattern across both the body and sleeves. The garment is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for knitters ready to cast on.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's fitted cardigan with shaped back neck, structured front panels, and set-in or tailored sleeves. The design is worked in two contrasting colourways of the same yarn, creating a sophisticated tonal effect. It features a neat garter stitch border at the lower edges and a neckband picked up and worked after the main pieces are complete. The cardigan fastens with 3 black coated metal buttons (20mm, style TGB4989) sourced from Textile Garden, adding a refined, contemporary finish.

The pattern is sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements, from approximately 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with an actual garment chest measurement ranging from 88.5 cm (34¾ in) to 172 cm (67¾ in). This generous size range makes the Swan Cardigan an inclusive and versatile project.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Creative Linen, a DK weight yarn sold in 100g balls. Two colours are used throughout:

• Yarn A – Stormy 635: required in quantities ranging from 3 to 6 balls depending on size
• Yarn B – Silver 650: required in the same quantities as Yarn A, from 3 to 6 balls depending on size

Rowan Creative Linen is a distinctive yarn blend that combines natural linen with other fibres, giving the finished fabric a relaxed drape, subtle texture, and breathable quality — ideal for a layering cardigan worn across multiple seasons. The earthy, muted tones of Stormy and Silver complement each other beautifully in the two-colour charted pattern.

Needles and Notions

• 1 pair of 4½mm (UK No. 7 / US 7) knitting needles — used throughout for both body and sleeves
• 3 buttons: TGB4989, black coated metal, 20mm from Textile Garden
• Stitch holders are required for neck shaping

Tension

The stated tension is 23 stitches and 40 rows to 10 cm, measured over the charted pattern using 4½mm (US 7) needles. Achieving accurate tension is especially important in this design, as the charted two-colour pattern has a different row and stitch gauge than a standard stocking stitch fabric. Knitters are strongly encouraged to work a tension swatch before beginning.

Techniques and Construction

The Swan Cardigan is constructed in separate pieces — back, left front, right front, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. Key techniques used throughout the pattern include:

• Garter stitch (g st) — used for the lower border, worked by knitting every row; this creates a firm, non-curling edge that frames the colourwork neatly
• Two-colour charted pattern — the main body and sleeve fabric is worked from a body and sleeve chart, with colours changed and rows repeated as indicated; this is the defining visual feature of the Swan design
• Make 1 (M1) increases — used during the transition from the cast-on border into the main pattern to achieve the correct stitch count before beginning the chart
• Neck shaping — the back neck is shaped by casting off stitches at each side and working