Classic Elite Yarns Cumberland Blues Knitting Pattern

Cumberland Blues Cardigan by Classic Elite Yarns

What Is Being Made

The Cumberland Blues is a fitted cardigan pattern designed for knitters seeking a classic, tailored garment. This bottom-up construction cardigan features waist shaping that creates a flattering silhouette, with multiple size options ranging from extra small through extra large. The design emphasizes structured shaping through strategic increases and decreases, making it suitable for knitters with intermediate to advanced skills who are comfortable managing simultaneous shaping techniques.

Construction Method

This cardigan is worked using a bottom-up, seamed, flat construction approach. The garment begins at the lower edge and is worked in flat rows rather than in the round, requiring seaming to join pieces together at completion. This traditional method allows knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and make adjustments before finishing, offering greater control over fit and final measurements.

Techniques Used

• Waist shaping: The pattern incorporates strategic decreases and increases to create a contoured waist. Decreases are worked at regular intervals during the lower body section, followed by increases as the pattern progresses toward the bust, creating an hourglass silhouette.
• Armhole shaping: Bind-off stitches establish the armhole depth, followed by decreases worked at the end of rows to create a fitted sleeve cap.
• Neck shaping: Simultaneous neck and armhole shaping occurs during the upper body, requiring careful attention to multiple decreasing sequences worked at different intervals.
• Short-row shaping: The shoulder is shaped using short rows with wrap-and-turn (w&t) technique, allowing for three-dimensional shaping that creates a more anatomically correct shoulder line.
• Stitch markers: Markers are used to identify shaping points and maintain pattern consistency across multiple size variations.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch (Gtr st): Used for the bottom band, creating a textured, reversible edge that provides structure and prevents rolling.
• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch throughout the body of the cardigan, creating a smooth, classic fabric suitable for a fitted garment.
• Knit and purl stitches: Combined in transition rows to establish the stockinette pattern after the garter stitch band.
• Decrease stitches: Knit two together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) are used for shaping, with ssk creating a left-leaning decrease for neck shaping and k2tog creating a right-leaning decrease for armhole shaping.
• Make one (m1): Used for the waist increases, creating new stitches that blend seamlessly into the fabric.

Materials

The Cumberland Blues cardigan is designed to be worked in Liberty Wool yarn by Classic Elite Yarns, as published in The Best of Liberty Wool (so far...) collection. The pattern accommodates various yarn weights and requires appropriate needles for the chosen yarn. Knitters will need needles suitable for working flat in rows and tools for seaming the finished pieces together, such as a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and joining seams.

Pattern Features

The Cumberland Blues offers six size options with detailed measurements provided for each. The pattern includes specific row counts and stitch counts at each shaping stage, allowing knitters to track progress accurately. The front piece construction begins with a horizontal bottom band worked in garter stitch, which is then rotated and stitches are picked up along the edge to begin the main body. This innovative construction method creates a neat, finished lower edge without requiring a separate ribbing or hem. The simultaneous shaping of the neck and armhole in the upper body requires careful reading and attention to the pattern instructions, making this an excellent project for knitters looking to develop advanced shaping skills.