Classic Elite Yarns Martha Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Martha Knit Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Martha is a classic raglan cardigan designed for knitters of all levels. This seamless, top-down construction cardigan features a timeless silhouette with elegant lace detailing. The design is worked flat on needles and is available in multiple sizes, making it an accessible project for both beginners and experienced knitters seeking a refined, wearable garment.

Construction and Techniques

Martha employs several key knitting techniques that combine ease with visual interest. The cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down, eliminating the need for seaming and allowing knitters to try on the garment as they progress. The construction begins with the back piece, followed by the front panels, all shaped using strategic decreases.

Raglan shaping is used to create the armholes and sleeve cap decreases, a classic technique that distributes decreases evenly across the shoulder area for a professional fit. The pattern employs lace techniques throughout the body, specifically the Vine Lace pattern, which creates an openwork design that is both elegant and relatively straightforward to execute.

The cardigan transitions from lace to garter stitch after the initial 13½ inches, providing visual contrast and structural stability. This combination of techniques—lace followed by garter stitch—creates a garment with both aesthetic appeal and practical durability in high-wear areas.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Martha features the following primary stitches and stitch patterns:

• Vine Lace: A repeating lace pattern worked over a multiple of 9 stitches plus 4. This four-row repeat combines yarn overs (yo) with decreases (ssk and k2tog) to create an elegant openwork design. The pattern is worked on right-side rows while wrong-side rows are purled, allowing the lace to develop clearly.
• Garter Stitch (Gtr st): Worked after the lace section, garter stitch provides a textured, reversible fabric that is stable and forgiving. This stitch is maintained throughout the body and upper sections of the cardigan.
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): Used selectively for the first and last 2 stitches of rows to create clean, finished edges that are easier to seam or bind off.
• Raglan Decreases: Worked on right-side rows using k2tog and ssk decreases positioned 2 stitches in from each edge, creating the characteristic diagonal lines of raglan shaping.

Materials

The Martha is designed to be knitted in Classic Elite Yarns Liberty Wool Light, a yarn choice that suits both the lace and garter stitch sections. The pattern requires needles in two sizes: smaller needles for the ribbed cast-on edge and larger needles for the main body and lace sections. The exact yardage and needle sizes are specified within the downloadable PDF pattern.

Pattern Details and Sizing

The Martha is available in five sizes with corresponding stitch counts for the cast-on: XS (103 sts), S (121 sts), M (130 sts), L (148 sts), and XL (166 sts). Each size includes specific decreases and shaping instructions to ensure proper fit across the range. The pattern provides detailed row-by-row instructions for the back, left front, and right front pieces, with clear guidance on when to transition between stitch patterns and how to execute the raglan shaping.

This downloadable PDF pattern was originally published in Spectrum 9229, a printed collection of designs by Classic Elite Yarns, and represents a refined approach to cardigan construction suitable for knitters seeking a classic, versatile wardrobe staple.