Bowland is the perfect colourwork cardigan for both casual or more dressy occasions. Its simple, stylish fit makes it as easy to wear as it is to knit and looks great paired with either plain coloured or patterned fabrics. Knitted in fingering (4 ply) weight yarn it is warm without being overwhelming.
Bowland is a simple colourwork cardigan pattern with very little shaping and is a great introduction to stranded colourwork worked in the round and the techniques required to knit this style of garment. Bowland has an unshaped lower body and a slightly dropped shoulder line, long sleeves and a simple round neckline. A very pleasing repeating motif is used throughout with ribbed welt and button bands acting as a frame. A choice of four lower body lengths are included in the pattern enabling you to select the perfect length cardigan for you. The cardigan body is knitted in the round from the bottom up with a steek at the centre front for the front opening. Additional steeks are worked at the armholes. The sleeve stitches are then picked up around the armholes and knitted downwards in the round. Three sleeve lengths are also included in the pattern enabling you to choose the perfect fitting sleeve.

Stranded colourwork technique is used for all colourwork sections providing a great introduction to this method of working. Additional tutorials can be found on Susan’s YouTube channel to aid you through the steps.

Bowland is knitted using Susan Crawford Excelana North fingering weight a soft, fingering weight 100% British wool, spun for us in nearby Yorkshire and hand-dyed at our Lake District studio. It is shown here in a wonderful autumnal combination of deepest Loam, a background shade of Limestone – a soft oatmeal shade, plus Spruce, Damson Wine, Nile Green and Dark Mandarin but would look amazing in almost any combination of colours.

The garment is designed to be worn with between 2½cm (1in) of negative ease and 2½cm (1in) of positive ease.

The sample shown is the 5th size medium length with medium length sleeves, to fit 107–112cm (42–44in) chest.

The pattern includes comprehensive written instructions for 10 sizes to fit from 76–157cm (30–62in) chest, plus full colour charts for all colourwork sections including the steeks.

Yarn kits are available at Susan Crawford Vintage.

Yarn
Susan Crawford Excelana North fingering weight 100% British wool, 75% Cheviot, 25% Bluefaced Leicester (159m / 174yds per 50g skein approx)

2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) skeins, shade Loam – Yarn A
2 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) skeins, shade Limestone – Yarn B
2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins, shade Nile Green – Yarn C
1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins, shade Damson Wine – Yarn D
1 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins, shade Spruce – Yarn E
1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins, shade Dark Mandarin – Yarn F

Suggested needles
Small Needles: 2.75mm (US 2) circular needle (80–100cm in length)
2.75mm (US 2) circular needle (40–60cm in length)
Set of 2.75mm (US 2) DPNs
Large Needles: 3.25mm (US 3) circular needle (80–100cm in length)
3.25mm (US 3) circular needle (40cm in length)
Set of 3.25mm (US 3) DPNs

Gauge
28 sts and 29 rounds = 10cm (4in) measured over stranded colourwork knitted in the round, after blocking. We obtained this gauge using 3.25mm needles.

If necessary, use an alternative needle size to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions
Stitch markers
Waste yarn
Buttons (variable 7–10 depending on body length)
Sewing needle and thread

Techniques
Stranded colourwork
Steeking
Following colourwork charts