Classic Elite Yarns Derby Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Derby Cardigan

Project Overview

The Derby is an unstructured cardigan jacket featuring an elegant lace and cable border design. This knit-in-Sanibel pattern was originally published in Silhouettes 1404 and is designed by Susan Mills. The cardigan is worked seamlessly from the bottom up in a flat construction, with the body pieces joined at the top of the armhole to work the shoulders and collar. This intermediate-level project creates a sophisticated layering piece suitable for a range of bust measurements from 32 to 49 inches.

What Is Being Made

The Derby cardigan is an unstructured jacket with a sophisticated silhouette. The finished garment features a lace and cable border at the lower edge, with the body worked primarily in stockinette stitch. The schematic shows the body opened out flat for blocking purposes before the shoulder shaping and collar are worked. The shoulder shaping adds approximately 2½ to 4¼ inches to the length depending on size. Available in four sizes (S, M, L, XL), the cardigan accommodates bust measurements from 32–35 inches through 45–49 inches, with finished widths at the lower edge ranging from 56¾ to 70½ inches and finished lengths from the lower edge to the base of the collar ranging from 21½ to 26 inches.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is knit from the lower edge upward, allowing for easy length adjustments during the knitting process
• Worked flat: All pieces are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, making this accessible for knitters who prefer traditional flat knitting methods
• Seamless joining: The body pieces are joined at the top of the armhole using a technique that eliminates the need for seaming, creating a smooth, professional finish
• Lace patterning: A decorative lace and cable border is incorporated at the lower edge of the garment, adding visual interest and sophistication
• Multiple yarn management: The pattern uses multiple balls of yarn worked simultaneously during armhole shaping, allowing the front and back sections to be shaped independently without cutting yarn

Stitches Used

The Derby pattern employs a range of fundamental and decorative knitting stitches to create its elegant design:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch used for the body of the cardigan, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Garter stitch: Used for the initial row and edge treatments
• Yarn overs (yo): Create the openwork elements characteristic of the lace border
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used throughout the lace pattern and for armhole shaping
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease that pairs with k2tog for balanced decreases in the lace pattern and armhole shaping
• Slip, slip, knit through back loops (s2kp): A centered double decrease used in the lace and cable pattern
• Cable stitches: Created by slipping stitches to a cable needle, holding in back, knitting stitches from the main needle, then knitting stitches from the cable needle to create twisted rope-like textures
• Bind off (BO): Used to secure stitches at the underarm openings during armhole shaping

Lace and Cable Pattern Details

The decorative lace and cable border is worked from a charted pattern that repeats over a multiple of 23 stitches plus 8 additional stitches, with a 12-row repeat. The pattern combines yarn overs and decreases to create openwork lace elements with cable twists that add textural interest. The chart uses standard knitting symbols: knit on right side and purl on wrong side for stockinette stitches, yarn overs for creating holes, k2tog and ssk for decreases, s2kp for centered decreases, and cable instructions for twisted stitch elements. This border is worked for approximately 11 to 12 inches before transitioning to stockinette stitch for the main body.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Derby pattern is designed to be knit using Sanibel by Classic Elite Yarns, a yarn composition of 58% viscose and 42% cotton. This fiber blend creates a fabric