Classic Elite Yarns Captiva Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Captiva Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Captiva is an open cardigan with bracelet-length sleeves, designed by Tonia Barry and originally published in Spring 2012 in the Sanibel collection. This garment is suitable for knitters of all skill levels, classified as Easy. The cardigan is available in seven sizes ranging from XS to 3XL, with finished bust measurements from 32 inches to 56 inches and a finished length between 23½ and 26 inches.

Construction Techniques

The Captiva cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up seamless approach, worked flat on circular needles. The garment begins at the lower edge and progresses upward to the armholes, where the front and back pieces are divided for independent shaping. This method eliminates the need for seaming and creates a smooth, continuous fabric from hem to underarm. The use of circular needles for flat knitting provides stability and comfort during the knitting process, even though the work is not joined in the round.

Stitches Used

The Captiva features two primary stitch patterns:

• 2 x 2 Rib – A classic ribbed texture worked over a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2. This stitch is created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a structured pattern. Row 1 (right side) is worked as K2, *p2, k2; repeat from asterisk. Row 2 (wrong side) is worked as P2, *k2, p2; repeat from asterisk. The 2 x 2 Rib is repeated to create an elastic, textured band at the lower edge of the cardigan, measuring approximately 1 inch in depth.
• Stockinette Stitch (St st) – A smooth, classic knit fabric created by knitting all stitches on right-side rows and purling all stitches on wrong-side rows. This stitch forms the main body of the cardigan above the ribbed hem.

Shaping and Sleeve Details

The cardigan incorporates a Sleeve Increase Row worked on the right side, which adds 2 stitches per row by working a make-one increase (m1) after the first stitch and before the last stitch. This gradual increase creates the shaping necessary for the bracelet-length sleeves. The armhole shaping is achieved by binding off a set number of stitches at the division point, with the exact count varying by size to maintain proper garment proportions.

Materials

The Captiva is designed to be knitted with Sanibel by Classic Elite Yarns, a yarn composed of 58% viscose and 42% cotton. This fiber blend creates a lightweight, breathable fabric ideal for an open cardigan design. The yarn is packaged at 50 grams per ball with approximately 125 yards per ball. The pattern requires 9 to 15 balls depending on the finished size, with the sample shown in Size S using the colorway 1388 Shrimp.

Needles required include a 29-inch circular knitting needle in two sizes: US 5 (smaller needle for the ribbed cuff) and a larger size (specified in the pattern for the stockinette body). The circular needle format accommodates the flat knitting method and provides adequate needle length to hold the cast-on stitches without crowding.

Pattern Overview

Construction begins with casting on between 122 and 210 stitches depending on size. The lower edge is worked in 2 x 2 Rib for 1 inch, with selective decreases worked evenly across the final ribbed row for certain sizes to achieve the target stitch count. The needle is then changed to the larger size, and the main body is worked in stockinette stitch until the piece measures 16½ inches from the cast-on edge. At this point, the body is divided for armholes: stitches are placed on holders for the front sections, while the back stitches continue to be worked. The back section is knitted even until the armhole reaches the specified depth for each size. The pattern concludes with finishing details, including a picked-up wide rib band that frames the front opening of the cardigan.