Classic Elite Yarns Ackerman Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Ackerman Cardigan: Lace Panel Knit

What Is Being Made

The Ackerman is a raglan cardigan featuring decorative lace panels on the back and sleeves. This garment is designed as an intermediate-level knitting project with a small shawl collar and garter stitch edges that frame the lace work. The cardigan is available in six sizes ranging from XS to 2XL, with finished bust measurements from 33½" to 52¼" and lengths from 22½" to 26½".

Knitting Techniques

This cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up approach, meaning the garment is knitted starting from the lower edge and working upward toward the shoulders. The piece is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, which allows for the placement of distinct lace panels in specific areas. The finished cardigan features seamed construction, requiring assembly of separate pieces. The design incorporates raglan shaping, a classic sleeve cap style where decreases are worked gradually from the armhole upward to create a diagonal line from the underarm to the neckline.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Ackerman cardigan showcases a combination of fundamental knitting stitches and decorative lace work:

• Garter stitch (Gtr st) forms the lower edge ribbing and the edges of the cardigan, providing a textured, reversible fabric that lies flat and adds visual interest
• Stockinette stitch (St st) creates the smooth, classic background fabric on either side of the lace panels
• Lace panel features a charted pattern with an 8-row repeat over a multiple of 9 stitches. The lace uses yarn overs (yo) to create decorative holes, along with decreases including knit 2 together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) to maintain stitch count and form the lace motif

The lace panel chart is worked on the right side using knit stitches and purled stitches on the wrong side, creating a reversible appearance. The back piece features 26 stitches of lace flanked by stockinette sections, while shaping is accomplished through strategic decreases at the side seams and armholes using k2tog, ssk, k3tog, and sssk (slip, slip, slip, knit) techniques.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The pattern calls for yarn from the Legend collection by Classic Elite Yarns, though specific yardage and fiber content details are referenced in the full pattern documentation. The cardigan requires smaller needles for the garter stitch ribbing at the lower edge and larger needles for the main body and lace panel sections, allowing for proper gauge and fabric drape. The two-needle size approach is a common technique in knitting to create definition between ribbed edges and the main garment body.

Design Details

Originally published in Legend 1708A, a printed collection of designs, the Ackerman was designed by Susan Mills. The cardigan features a shawl collar with 2¼" overlapped bands, creating a sophisticated neckline finish. The lace panels are positioned strategically on the back and sleeves, adding visual interest while maintaining the intermediate skill level of the project. The raglan construction and side shaping create a fitted silhouette, while the garter stitch edges provide structural stability and a polished appearance.