Taro Cardigan in Rowan Creative Linen, Fine Lace & Kidsilk Haze - ZB298-00003-DE - Downloadable PDF

Taro Cardigan by Lisa Richardson in Rowan Creative Linen, Fine Lace & Kidsilk Haze

The Taro Cardigan is an elegant knitted cardigan designed by Lisa Richardson for Rowan. This intermediate-level pattern is worked in a sophisticated combination of three Rowan yarns held together, creating a beautifully textured, lightweight layering piece. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is written in German (DE), making it an ideal choice for German-speaking knitters seeking a refined, fashion-forward cardigan design.

Garment Overview

The Taro Cardigan is a classic open-front cardigan with shaped shoulders and a back neckline. The pattern is sized to fit a range of bust measurements, offering excellent versatility across sizes:

• To fit bust: 81–86, 91–97, 102–107, 112–117, and 122–127 cm
• Actual knitted bust measurement: 121, 132, 141, 152, and 161 cm

The generous positive ease built into each size gives the cardigan a relaxed, drapey silhouette that is characteristic of Lisa Richardson's design aesthetic. Shoulder shaping is achieved through carefully structured bind-off sequences, with the exact number of stitches decreased varying by size to create a smooth, tailored shoulder line.

Yarn and Materials

One of the most distinctive features of the Taro Cardigan is its use of three different Rowan yarns, each contributing a unique quality to the finished fabric:

• Rowan Creative Linen – A DK-weight yarn blended with linen, providing structure, drape, and a subtle natural texture. Used in the colourway Lin Apple 629, requiring 2, 2, 2, 2, or 2 x 100 g skeins depending on size.
• Rowan Fine Lace – A delicate lace-weight yarn that adds refinement and a gossamer quality to the fabric. Used in the colourway Cameo 920, requiring 3, 3, 4, 4, or 4 x 50 g skeins depending on size.
• Rowan Kidsilk Haze – A legendary mohair and silk blend held alongside the other yarns to add a soft halo effect, warmth, and a luxurious sheen to the finished garment.

The combination of linen, lace, and mohair-silk creates a fabric that is simultaneously structured and ethereal — a hallmark of Rowan's signature multi-yarn approach. Yarns are held together in specific combinations (including double strand usage of certain colours) as directed within the stitch pattern repeats.

Stitch Pattern and Techniques

The Taro Cardigan features a repeating 20-row stitch pattern (Muster) that forms the main fabric of the garment. The pattern alternates between different yarn colour combinations — referred to as Farbe A (Colour A), Farbe B (Colour B), and Farbe C (Colour C) — worked across the 20-row sequence. Key details of the stitch pattern include:

• Rows worked in double strand of Colour C on the right side, incorporating a knit stitch with yarn-over or decrease (KN) sequence: *3 stitches knit, KN, repeat from * to last stitches, creating a rhythmic textured repeat across the row.
• Rows 16–18 mirror Rows 12–14, reinforcing the symmetrical structure of the pattern repeat.
• Rows 19 and 20 are worked in double strand of Colour A in plain knit stitch, providing a clean visual break between pattern repeats.
• The 20-row repeat is continued until the piece reaches 48 (50: 52: 54: 56) cm for a pullover version or 68 (70: 72: 74: 76) cm for the cardigan