Classic Elite Yarns Juella Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Juella Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Juella is a classic wrap cardigan designed by Tian Foley. This garment features a timeless wrap-front silhouette with ties, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and seasons. The cardigan is constructed as a structured, fitted garment with shaped armholes and shoulders, offering a polished, professional appearance.

Construction Method

The Juella cardigan is worked bottom-up and seamed, with all pieces worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round. This traditional construction method allows for precise shaping and a professional finish. The garment begins with the back panel, which is cast on and worked upward from the hem to the shoulder, with subsequent pieces (fronts and sleeves) following the same directional approach before being seamed together.

Primary Stitch Pattern

The Juella features a 1 x 1 Twisted Rib stitch pattern used for the ribbed edging. This decorative and functional stitch is worked over an odd number of stitches and alternates knit and purl stitches with twisted variations. On right-side rows, the pattern reads K1, k1-tbl (knit one through the back loop), then repeats *p1, k1-tbl to the last stitch, finishing with K1. On wrong-side rows, the sequence mirrors this with P1, p1-tbl, then *k1, p1-tbl to the final stitch, ending with P1. The twisted rib creates a refined, textured edge that resists rolling and adds visual interest to the hem.

The body of the cardigan is worked in Stockinette Stitch (St st), the foundational knit stitch that creates smooth, flat fabric ideal for a classic wrap cardigan silhouette. Stockinette stitch is achieved by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing the characteristic V-pattern texture.

Shaping Techniques

The pattern employs several advanced shaping techniques to create a fitted, professional garment:

• Armhole shaping: Stitches are bound off at the beginning of rows to create vertical armhole edges, followed by decreases worked at the armhole edges using k2tog (knit two together) and ssk (slip, slip, knit) decreases on right-side rows, with corresponding purl decreases (ssp and p2tog) on wrong-side rows. These decreases are staggered across multiple rows to create a gradual, curved armhole.
• Neck shaping: The center stitches are bound off to create the wrap-front opening, with additional bind-offs at the neck edges to shape the neckline.
• Shoulder shaping: Short rows (indicated by w&t, or wrap and turn) are used to create sloped shoulders, a technique that allows the shoulder line to angle downward naturally rather than creating a squared-off edge.

Sizing and Gauge

The Juella is offered in seven sizes with stitch counts ranging from 99 to 143 stitches at the cast-on edge, accommodating a wide range of body measurements. The pattern provides specific measurements for key points including the ribbed hem depth (1 inch), body length before armhole shaping (ranging from 12¼ to 13½ inches depending on size), armhole depth (ranging from 5¾ to 7½ inches), and total garment length to the shoulder (ranging from 6¾ to 8½ inches). Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Materials Required

The Juella is designed to be worked with yarn from Classic Elite Yarns and requires both smaller needles and larger needles to accommodate the transition from the ribbed hem to the body. The ribbed edging is worked on smaller needles to create a tighter, more elastic edge, while the body is worked on larger needles to achieve the appropriate gauge for the stockinette stitch sections. The pattern also requires a second ball of yarn for working the neck shaping, allowing both sides of the neckline to be shaped simultaneously.

Design Heritage

The Juella pattern was originally published in Juna 1801, a printed collection of designs, and has been preserved and made available by Classic Elite Yarns. This classic design represents timeless cardigan construction principles that remain relevant to contemporary knitters seeking elegant, wearable garments.