Catarina Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Catarina Cardigan: Beginner Knitting Pattern Overview

What Is Being Made

The Catarina Cardigan is a versatile, wearable knitted cardigan designed by Quails Studio. This pattern offers nine size options, ranging from chest measurements of 71-76 cm (28-30 inches) up to 152-157 cm (60-62 inches), making it suitable for various body types and ages. The cardigan features a classic construction with separate left front, right front, and back pieces that are assembled together, along with button closures for easy wear.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project classified as beginner level, making it an excellent choice for those new to garment construction. The pattern uses fundamental knitting techniques including casting on, working in stockinette stitch, decreasing stitches for shaping, and casting off. The construction method involves shaping the front neck with strategic decreases worked at the neck edge, followed by shoulder shaping using sequential cast-offs. Stitch holders are used to manage stitches during the neck shaping process, and stitch markers help track pattern repeats and shaping points.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the Catarina Cardigan is stockinette stitch (st st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a neat appearance. Stockinette stitch is worked by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. The pattern incorporates knit two together (K2tog) decreases for shaping the front neck, and purl two together (P2tog) decreases on wrong-side rows to maintain consistent shaping. These decreases are worked strategically over multiple rows and alternate rows depending on the size being knitted, allowing the front neckline to taper smoothly.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Catarina Cardigan is designed to be knitted using two yarns held together as one, combining Rowan Summerlite DK and Rowan Kidsilk Haze. Summerlite DK is used in the colorway Cantaloupe, with yardage requirements ranging from 456 grams (50gm balls) for the smallest size to 17 balls for the largest size. Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Burnt Caramel is used as the second yarn, with quantities ranging from 5 balls (25gm) for smaller sizes to 11 balls for the largest size. This yarn combination creates a lightweight, breathable fabric ideal for warm-weather wear.

The pattern calls for one pair of 4mm (US 6) needles for the main knitting. The recommended tension is 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 centimeters measured over stockinette stitch using 4mm needles with one strand of each yarn held together. Achieving the correct tension is essential for the cardigan to fit properly across all size ranges.

Additional Materials and Notions

• Stitch holders – used to temporarily hold stitches during neck shaping
• Stitch markers – used to mark important points in the pattern for easy tracking
• Seven buttons – required for the front closure of the cardigan

Pattern Structure and Sizing

The pattern provides detailed instructions for nine different sizes, with each size variation clearly marked in brackets throughout the instructions. The actual chest measurements of the finished garment range from 90.5 cm (35¾ inches) to 171.5 cm (67½ inches), ensuring proper fit across all size options. Each size includes specific stitch counts for casting on, unique shaping decreases, and individualized shoulder shaping instructions, allowing knitters to customize the cardigan to their exact measurements.