Cascade Yarns W Ellie Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Cascade Yarns W Ellie Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Ellie Cardigan is a classic knitted cardigan sweater designed by Cheryl Beckerich for Cascade Yarns. This intermediate-level project creates a fitted, button-front cardigan available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3XL, with finished bust measurements from 36" to 56". The cardigan features decorative lace and cable stitch patterning throughout, creating an elegant garment suitable for layering or wearing as a standalone piece.

Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several intermediate knitting techniques that add visual interest and texture to the finished garment. Cable stitches are used to create twisted rope-like textures, worked using a cable needle to manipulate stitch placement. Lace stitches incorporate yarn overs and decreases to form decorative openwork patterns across the front panels and body. Increases and decreases are strategically placed for shaping, including make-one increases (M1R and M1L) that lean in specific directions for invisible shaping. The cardigan is constructed with set-in sleeves and features a button band closure, requiring careful attention to gauge and stitch counts for proper fit.

Stitches Used

The Ellie Cardigan utilizes a variety of essential knitting stitches:

• Stockinette stitch — the primary fabric base, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, providing a smooth, classic appearance
• Ribbed stitch — a 2x2 rib pattern (knit 2, purl 2) used for cuffs, waistband, and button bands to create elasticity and structure
• Cable stitches — specifically C7B (cable 7 back) and C7F (cable 7 front), created by slipping stitches onto a cable needle and crossing them over working stitches to form twisted columns
• Lace stitches — combinations of yarn overs (YO) paired with decreases including K2tog (knit 2 together), SSK (slip, slip, knit), and Sk2p (slip, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over) to create openwork patterns
• Increases — M1R (make 1 right) and M1L (make 1 left) for seamless shaping that blends invisibly into the fabric

Materials

The Ellie Cardigan is knitted using Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Merino, a premium yarn composed of 100% Superwash Merino Wool. Each skein provides 220 yards (200 meters) of yardage and weighs 100 grams (3.5 ounces). The pattern requires 5 to 8 skeins depending on size, with the sample shown in color #02 (Tuffet), a neutral tone. Knitting is worked on US 7 (4.5 mm) needles or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge of 19.25 stitches and 25 rows over 4 inches in blocked Stockinette stitch. Additional materials include a cable needle for cable stitch work, a yarn needle for finishing, 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, 4 stitch holders for temporarily securing stitches, and 5 one-inch buttons for the front closure.