Blue Sky Fibers Swing Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Blue Sky Fibers Swing Cardigan in Skinny Cotton

What is Being Made

The Swing Cardigan is a knitted cardigan sweater designed by Bobbi IntVeld, available in six sizes ranging from XS to XXL. This garment features a classic swing silhouette with waist shaping and neck shaping worked simultaneously with armhole shaping for a refined fit. The cardigan is finished with a single 1½" button closure and is worked in a lightweight cotton yarn suitable for warm-weather wear.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs bottom-up construction, meaning the cardigan is knitted starting from the lower edge and working upward toward the shoulders. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, and pieces are seamed together after completion. The shoulder seams are joined using a three-needle bind-off technique, where stitches from both front and back pieces are held on parallel needles with right sides together, then knitted and bound off simultaneously for a secure, professional finish.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Swing Cardigan primarily utilizes Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st) for the lower body section and transitions to Stockinette Stitch (St st) for the upper portions. Stockinette Stitch creates the smooth, classic knit fabric characteristic of traditional cardigans. Shaping is achieved through strategic decreases including p2tog (purl two together) and p2tog-tbl (purl two together through the back loop) for waist shaping, and ssk (slip, slip, knit) decreases for armhole and neck shaping. The pattern also incorporates M1 (make one) increases to add fullness where needed.

Materials and Tools

This pattern calls for Blue Sky Skinny Cotton yarn, a fine-weight cotton suitable for delicate drape and breathability. The yardage requirement ranges from 7 to 11 hanks depending on size, with each hank providing 100 yards of yardage at 70 grams. Knitting is worked on Size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, or whatever needle size is necessary to achieve the correct gauge for proper fit. A Size E (3.5 mm) crochet hook is included in the materials list, likely for finishing details such as edging or button loops. Additional notions include a stitch holder for managing stitches during construction, a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, and one 1½" button for the cardigan closure.

Pattern Structure and Shaping Details

The back piece is cast on with 88 to 142 stitches depending on size, beginning with Reverse Stockinette Stitch for 12 rows before transitioning to Stockinette Stitch. Waist shaping is worked through paired decreases on right-side rows at regular intervals—every 4th row for smaller sizes and every 6th row for larger sizes—repeated multiple times to create the characteristic swing silhouette. The pattern notes that neck and bust shaping, along with armhole shaping, are worked simultaneously, requiring careful attention to the full instructions before beginning. Neck decreases are worked every 4th or 2nd row depending on size, while armhole shaping is integrated into the same rows. The front shoulders are worked separately in short rows before being joined to the back shoulders using the three-needle bind-off method, creating a finished, professional appearance.

Experience Level

This pattern is rated for Advanced Beginner knitters, indicating that while fundamental knitting skills are required, the techniques used are relatively straightforward. Knitters should be comfortable with basic stitches, shaping techniques, and seaming before beginning this project.