This cardigan, like so many of my designs, began as a request from knitters who popped into the Skipton Studio. After falling in love with the Ravenscar Jumper, which is inspired by the traditional fisherman’s jumper, they asked for a cardigan version – and I completely understood why! So here it is: the Ravenscar Cardigan.

There are two versions in the pattern: a shorter style with a neat neckline and a longer version with a generous collar. Of course, you can mix and match – a short body with a long collar or the other way round. I always love seeing how knitters make this one their own.

I knitted the sample in Jacob Aran, for its strength. The original display cardigan was bought years ago by a lovely lady who lived on a canal boat and was passing through. I often think of it still out there, keeping her cosy by the fire as the water ripples past.

CONSTRUCTION
The back, left and right fronts and two sleeves are knitted flat from the bottom up in seperate pieces and joined together.

TECHNIQUES USED
Cast on, knit, decreasing at the neck shaping, pockets, seaming, cast off. The sleeves are dropped. Optional but recommended to create the feeling of joy when joining your pieces: mattress stitch and three needle cast off.

YARN
14(15:16:17:18) 50g balls of Donegal Aran Tweed for short version
100% Pure New Wool, 80m/88yds per 50g ball
OR
7(7:8:8:9:9) 100g hanks of WYS Jacob Aran for short version
100% British Jacob wool, 166m/182yds per 100g
OR
8(9:9:10:10) 100g hanks of WYS Croft Shetland Aran for long version
100% Shetland Island Wool, 166m/182yds per 100g

SUGGESTED KNITTING NEEDLES
4.5mm and 5mm.

NOTIONS
Six buttons for short version
Seven buttons for long version

GAUGE (tension)
18 stitches and 25 rows to 10cm/4ins square over narrow rib pattern. I obtained this gauge with 5mm needles.
It is important to obtain the correct gauge so do work a swatch before you start the pattern and change your needle size to achieve the correct gauge if you need to.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
I recommend a negative to positive ease of 4-8ins/10-20cm at the chest.

Size
1, (2, 3, 4, 5)

chest circumference
100, (113, 127, 140, 153)cms/39¼, (44, 50, 55, 60¼)ins

length (short version) (from top of shoulder to cast on edge)
54, (56, 56, 58, 60)cms/21¼, (22, 22, 22¾, 23½)ins

length (long version) (from top of shoulder to cast on edge)
68, (68, 70, 70, 72)cms/26¾, (26¾, 27½, 27½, 28¼)ins

sleeve length
44cms/17½ins

NEED HELP?
I am here for you! Pop into the Skipton studio, send an email, or check out the Purl &Jane YouTube channel for tips, inspiration and guidance including handy resources like gauge (tension) guides and how to tutorials.