Poppy Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Glace - Downloadable PDF

Poppy Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Glace

What is Being Made

The Poppy Cardigan is a classic knitted cardigan designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. This garment is a beginner-friendly project available in five sizes ranging from small (to fit bust 81-86 cm / 32-34 in) through to extra-extra-large (to fit bust 122-127 cm / 48-50 in). The cardigan features a structured fit with shaping at the sides and is designed to be worked from the bottom up, beginning with the back piece.

Techniques Used

The Poppy Cardigan employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginner-level knitters. The garment begins with a moss stitch ribbing at the lower edge, which provides elasticity and a decorative textured finish. After the initial ribbing section, the main body transitions into stockinette stitch, the most basic and commonly used stitch in knitting. The pattern incorporates shaping through strategic decreasing and increasing: decreases are worked at regular intervals to create a tapered waist, while increases are introduced higher up the garment to add width through the bust area. These shaping techniques are fundamental to creating a well-fitted garment that follows the natural contours of the body.

Stitches Used

• Moss Stitch: Formed by alternating knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard pattern, creating a textured, reversible fabric. The moss stitch section runs for 32 rows at the cardigan's hem, providing structure and preventing curling.
• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch used throughout the main body of the cardigan. This stitch creates the smooth, classic knitted fabric appearance and is formed by alternating rows of knit stitches (on right-side rows) and purl stitches (on wrong-side rows).
• Decreasing: Single stitch decreases are worked at each end of specified rows to shape the waist and create a fitted silhouette.
• Increasing: Single stitch increases are worked at each end of rows to add width through the bust area, creating a flattering A-line or fitted shape depending on the size.

Materials

The Poppy Cardigan is designed to be knitted using Rowan Cotton Glace, a lightweight yarn in the DK (double knitting) weight category. The pattern calls for two needle sizes: 2.75mm (US 2) needles for the initial moss stitch ribbing, and 3.25mm (US 3) needles for the main stockinette stitch sections. The needle size change creates a subtle gauge difference that enhances the definition between the ribbed hem and the body of the cardigan. Cotton Glace is an excellent choice for a beginner cardigan project, as it is a smooth, easy-to-work yarn that clearly shows stitch definition and allows knitters to easily identify and correct mistakes.