Classic Elite Yarns Merrimack Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Merrimack Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Merrimack is an open front short sleeve cardigan featuring decorative eyelet cables and seed stitch borders on the front edges. This garment is designed as a versatile layering piece with a fitted waist silhouette achieved through strategic shaping increases and decreases. The cardigan is available in six sizes ranging from XS to 2XL, with the pattern shown in Size S.

Construction Method

This cardigan is worked bottom-up using the seamed construction method, meaning pieces are knitted separately and then joined together. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for easy shaping and the incorporation of decorative lace panels on the front pieces.

Techniques Used

The Merrimack incorporates several intermediate-level knitting techniques:

• Lace knitting: Both the right and left front panels feature eyelet lace patterns that create an open, decorative design element
• Cable knitting: The lace panels include cable stitches (C5L and C5R) that add texture and visual interest to the front edges
• Waist shaping: The pattern uses strategic decreases and increases worked at intervals to create a fitted silhouette, with varying row counts between shaping rows depending on size
• Seed stitch borders: A textured border frames the lace panels and provides structural definition to the front edges

Stitches Used

The Merrimack pattern employs a focused selection of fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Seed Stitch: An alternating knit and purl stitch worked across all rows (K1, *p1, k1; rep from *) that creates a bumpy, textured fabric used for borders and edge definition
• Stockinette Stitch: The primary fabric stitch for the body of the cardigan, providing a smooth, classic knitted appearance
• Yarn Overs (yo): Used in the lace panels to create eyelet holes that contribute to the open, airy design
• Knit Two Together (k2tog) and Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): Decrease stitches used for both waist shaping and lace pattern construction
• Make One (m1): Increase stitch used for waist shaping to add fullness at the hip
• Cable Stitches (C5L and C5R): Left and right-leaning cable crosses that add dimension to the lace panels

Lace Panel Details

Both the right and left front lace panels are worked over 19 stitches and repeat across 19 rows. The right front panel features yarn over and knit two together combinations (yo, k2tog) that create eyelet decreases, while the left front panel mirrors this with slip, slip, knit and yarn over combinations (ssk, yo). Both panels incorporate cable crosses at rows 13 and 17 of the repeat, creating a sophisticated interplay between lace and cable textures. The panels are framed by seed stitch borders and reverse stockinette sections that provide visual separation and structural support.

Waist Shaping Strategy

The pattern employs a multi-phase waist shaping approach. The back piece begins with a cast-on of 105 to 149 stitches depending on size. After working 2 inches of seed stitch, the knitter transitions to stockinette and begins decreasing for waist definition. The decrease sequence varies by size but generally follows a pattern of working a decrease row followed by 3, 5, or 7 rows even, repeated multiple times to gradually reduce stitch count. After reaching the narrowest point at the waist, the pattern reverses with increase rows spaced 9 to 17 rows apart to add fullness at the hip and bust.

Materials and Gauge Information

While specific yarn weight and needle size are not detailed in the provided pattern excerpt, Classic Elite Yarns is known for producing high-quality worsted and sport weight yarns suitable for cardigan projects. The pattern is designed for intermediate knitters and requires needles appropriate for the chosen yarn and a gauge that accommodates the stockinette body fabric and lace panel stitches. The finished garment includes seaming, indicating that yarn suitable for both knitting and finishing seams is necessary.