Blue Sky Fibers Sunday Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Blue Sky Fibers Sunday Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Sunday Cardigan is a women's cardigan sweater designed by Kim Hamlin, available in six sizes ranging from XS (to fit bust 28-30") to 2X (to fit bust 48-50"). This intermediate-level knitting project features a sophisticated construction method where a lace panel forms the foundation, with body stitches picked up and worked upward to create the finished garment. The cardigan is fastened with 12 small buttons and includes a front band detail worked in seed stitch.

Techniques Used

The Sunday Cardigan employs several advanced knitting techniques that create visual interest and structural integrity:

• Bottom-up construction: The lace panel is worked first from the waist down to the bottom edge, establishing the foundation of the piece
• Picked-up stitches: Body stitches are picked up from the cast-on edge of the completed lace panel and worked upward to the armholes, creating a seamless transition between sections
• Worked flat: All pieces are constructed using flat knitting on circular needles, rather than in the round
• Seamed construction: The two front pieces and back are worked separately to the shoulders, then seamed together for a tailored fit
• Lace patterning: A decorative lace panel runs down the center front, creating an elegant focal point
• Shaping: Armhole and neck shaping are incorporated through strategic bind-offs, and shoulder shaping is achieved through graduated bind-off sequences

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates fundamental and decorative stitch techniques:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): Used for the main body fabric and armhole edges, providing a smooth, classic knit surface
• Seed stitch: Applied to the front bands and body sections, creating a textured, non-curling fabric that frames the lace panel
• Lace pattern: A specialized stitch pattern worked over multiple rows creates the openwork design of the central panel
• Garter stitch elements: Implied in edge treatments and finishing details

Materials and Tools

The Sunday Cardigan is designed to showcase the qualities of premium fibers and requires specific tools for successful completion:

• Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca Silk in 50-gram hanks, each containing 146 yards. The pattern requires 7 to 11 hanks depending on size (XS through 2X). The photo example is shown in Mango #144 colorway, demonstrating how the lace and seed stitch pattern work together in a warm, golden tone
• Needles: Size 5 (3.75mm) 32-inch long circular needle, or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge. Circular needles are used for flat knitting to accommodate the width of the piece
• Additional tools: Cable needle for any twisted stitches, Size D (3.25mm) crochet hook for the cast-on edge and buttonhole edging, 2 stitch markers to denote pattern sections, stitch holder for holding stitches during construction, and a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends
• Notions: 12 small buttons for the front closure

Pattern Structure and Construction Details

The Sunday Cardigan follows a distinctive construction sequence that differs from traditional top-down or standard bottom-up cardigans. The lace panel is established first, with 144 to 306 cast-on stitches depending on size, creating a foundation that measures approximately 13 inches before body stitches are picked up. The pattern uses row-by-row instructions with size variations noted in parentheses throughout.

The front bands are worked in seed stitch with 10 stitches on each side, providing a neat, finished edge. The lace pattern alternates with seed stitch sections in a structured sequence, creating visual rhythm across the front. Armhole shaping begins after the lace panel reaches its full depth, with graduated bind-offs creating a smooth curve. Neck shaping follows a similar graduated approach, binding off stitches in decreasing amounts to create a comfortable neckline. Shoulder shaping completes the upper body construction before pieces are seamed together.

This intermediate-level pattern rewards knitters with experience in reading complex instructions and managing multiple stitch patterns simultaneously. The use of premium alpaca