Classic Elite Yarns Greenbank Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Greenbank Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Greenbank is a women's cardigan designed by Susan Mills, originally published in Twists and Turns 1510. This garment features a relaxed, poncho-like feel and fit, making it an excellent choice for those seeking comfortable, oversized layering. The cardigan is available in six sizes ranging from XS to 2XL, with finished bust measurements from 38 inches to 57¾ inches. The design is intended to be worn with 4 to 6 inches of positive ease for its characteristic relaxed silhouette. The finished back length ranges from 21¼ inches to 24¼ inches depending on size.

Techniques Used

The Greenbank is worked using several key knitting techniques that create its distinctive appearance and structure:

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and adjust length as needed.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, making this an accessible project for knitters who prefer traditional flat knitting methods.
• Seamed construction: Pieces are sewn together after completion, creating finished seams that contribute to the garment's polished appearance.
• Cable patterning: Cables feature prominently on the sleeves and at the center back, adding visual interest and texture to the design.
• Raglan shaping: The armholes are shaped using raglan decreases, which create diagonal lines from the underarm to the neckline for a comfortable, well-fitted sleeve cap.
• Garter stitch edging: The front bands and initial edge rows utilize garter stitch, providing a sturdy, non-curling border.

Stitches Used

The Greenbank employs a focused selection of stitches that work together to create texture and visual appeal:

• Garter stitch: Used for the initial cast-on edge (7 rows creating 3 garter ridges) and the front bands, providing structure and preventing curl.
• Reverse stockinette stitch: Forms the main body fabric on either side of the cable panels, creating a smooth background that allows the cables to stand out prominently.
• Tower Cable pattern: A charted cable design worked over the center 36 stitches of the back and front. The cable chart contains 98 rows and is worked while simultaneously shaping the raglan armholes.
• Purl and knit combinations: Used in the raglan decrease rows, with p2tog-tbl (purl two together through the back loop) and p2tog (purl two together) decreases creating the shaped armhole edges.

Materials

The Greenbank is designed to be knitted with MountainTop Blackthorn yarn by Classic Elite Yarns. This yarn is a blend of 50% superfine alpaca and 50% wool, offering both softness and durability. Each 100-gram skein yields approximately 120 yards. The project requires 9 to 13 hanks of yarn in colorway 7038 Mouse, depending on the size being knitted.

Knitting needles required include US size 10 (6 mm) needles for the main fabric and US size 9 (5.5 mm) needles for the initial cast-on edge and ribbing. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern sections, removable markers for marking armhole placement, a cable needle for working the cable stitches, a stitch holder for holding stitches, and five ¾-inch buttons for the front closure.

Skill Level

The Greenbank is rated as an intermediate-level project, making it suitable for knitters with experience in basic techniques who are ready to tackle cable patterns and garment shaping. The combination of charted cables, raglan decreases, and seaming requires attention to detail and familiarity with reading patterns and charts.