Wheat Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Trio - Downloadable PDF

Wheat Cardigan in Rowan Cotton Trio – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Wheat Cardigan is a classic, elegantly shaped knitted cardigan designed by Martin Storey and published as a downloadable PDF pattern. It is worked in Rowan Cotton Trio, a lightweight 4-ply yarn, and is rated as advanced beginner level — making it an ideal next step for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to tackle simple shaping and garment construction.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a fitted, tailored cardigan with a defined front slope, side seam shaping, and a neat garter stitch border. The garment is photographed in Charcoal 119, showcasing its clean, contemporary aesthetic. It is available in a wide range of sizes to fit chest measurements from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with actual garment chest measurements spanning 90 cm to 171.5 cm, giving generous ease options across the size range.

Construction and Structure

The cardigan is constructed in separate pieces — a back, a left front, a right front, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. The front bands are worked by picking up stitches, with centre front stitches held on a stitch holder during neck shaping to be incorporated into the front band later. Each side of the neck is worked separately to create clean, symmetrical shaping. This traditional, seamed construction gives the finished cardigan excellent structure and a professional finish.

Techniques Used

• Side seam shaping: Stitches are decreased and then increased at regular intervals along the side seams to create a gently fitted silhouette. Decreases are worked on a specific schedule — every 8th row, every 6th row, and every 4th row — to achieve a smooth curve.
• Front slope shaping: The V-neck or angled front opening is created by working decreases at the front edge at regular row intervals, beginning partway through the body and continuing up to the shoulder.
• Neck shaping: Each side of the neck is worked separately, with decreases worked over the next 3 rows at the neck edge, combined with cast-off stitches at the beginning of a row to shape the shoulder.
• Stitch holder usage: Centre front stitches are slipped onto a holder for the front band, a common technique in cardigan construction to keep live stitches ready for finishing.
• Working in the round (for bands): A long circular needle is specified for the front band, indicating that the band stitches are picked up and worked around the full front opening.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (st st): The main body fabric is worked in stocking stitch — knit on right side rows, purl on wrong side rows — giving a smooth, classic surface.
• Garter stitch (g st): The lower edges of the back and fronts begin with 4 rows of garter stitch (knit every row), creating a neat, non-curling border. Garter stitch is also used for the front bands, providing a tidy, flat finish around the cardigan opening.

Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Cotton Trio, a 4-ply weight yarn sold in 50g balls. The quantity required ranges from 11 balls for the smallest size up to 21 balls for the largest size. Two pairs of needles are used: 2¾mm (US 2 / UK 12) needles for the garter stitch borders and bands, and 3¼mm (US 3 / UK 10) needles for the main stocking stitch body. A 2¾mm circular needle at least 150 cm long is also required for working the front band.

Tension

The stated tension is 24 stitches and 34 rows to 10 cm measured over stocking stitch using 3¼mm (US 3) needles. Achieving the correct tension is particularly important in a fitted, shaped garment like this cardigan, as the extensive size grading relies on stitch and row counts being accurate