Blue Sky Fibers Hood River Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Blue Sky Fibers Hood River Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Hood River Cardigan is a women's cardigan sweater designed by Mary Pranica, available in sizes XS through 5XL. This garment is engineered as a quick-knit project perfect for layering during outdoor activities and cool weather. The finished cardigan features a classic silhouette with a bust circumference ranging from 32 inches (XS) to 66 inches (5XL) and a body length of approximately 27¼ to 34 inches depending on size.

Techniques Used

The Hood River Cardigan employs several key knitting techniques that contribute to its efficient construction and professional finish:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The cardigan is knit from the lower edge upward, allowing for easy fit adjustments and the ability to try on the garment as you progress.
• Seamless Knitting: The pattern utilizes seamless construction methods, eliminating the need for seaming pieces together and creating a smooth, continuous fabric.
• Worked Flat: The main body is worked back and forth on circular needles (used to accommodate the large number of stitches rather than for circular knitting), creating flat panels without joining rounds.
• Worked in the Round: The sleeves transition to circular or double-pointed needle construction when working in the round for the sleeve caps.
• Striped Colorwork: The design incorporates three distinct yarn colors (Highland Fleece, Red Rock, and Gravel Road) worked in a striped pattern throughout the garment.

Stitches Used

The Hood River Cardigan features fundamental knitting stitches that create its classic appearance. The primary stitch used is stockinette stitch, which forms the smooth, V-textured fabric characteristic of traditional cardigans. The pattern also includes ribbing (combining knit and purl stitches in alternating patterns, such as k2, p1, k1, p1) for structural details and finishing edges. These basic stitches make the pattern accessible to intermediate-level knitters while producing a polished, wearable garment.

Materials and Gauge

The Hood River Cardigan is designed specifically for Woolstok Worsted yarn, a 100% Fine Highland Wool yarn produced by Blue Sky Fibers. The pattern calls for yarn to be held double (two strands worked together throughout) to achieve the desired fabric weight and drape. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 8 hanks of color A (Highland Fleece), 2 hanks of color B (Red Rock), and 4 hanks of color C (Gravel Road) for the smallest size, up to 18, 3, and 10 hanks respectively for the largest size.

The recommended gauge is 15 stitches and 20 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch when using two strands of yarn held together and measured after blocking. Knitting needles required include a Size 10.5 (6.5mm) circular needle measuring 32 inches or longer for the body, a Size 10.5 (6.5mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches for sleeve work, and Size 10.5 (6.5mm) double-pointed needles for completing sleeves when stitches no longer fit comfortably on the circular needle. Additional tools needed include stitch holders or waste yarn, contrasting stitch markers, locking stitch markers, and a tapestry needle for finishing.

Pattern Difficulty and Construction Notes

This pattern is rated as Intermediate level, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle larger projects with multiple techniques. The pattern provides instructions for the smallest size with larger sizes given in parentheses throughout, and notes where single numbers apply to all sizes. The cardigan body is worked back and forth without joining, with the circular needle serving primarily to accommodate the large stitch count rather than for true circular knitting. Sleeve construction transitions to double-pointed needles once stitches no longer fit comfortably on the circular needle, a practical consideration for managing the decreasing stitch count as the sleeve tapers toward the cuff.