Classic Elite Yarns Sedgewick Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Sedgewick Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Sedgewick is a classic cardigan sweater designed by Tian Foley, originally published in Autumn Ridge 1710B. This garment features a relaxed, easy-to-wear silhouette that can be worn open or pinned closed for a cozy fit. The cardigan is available in six sizes ranging from XS to 2XL, making it accessible for a wide range of body types.

Construction Techniques

The Sedgewick is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed, and worked-flat approach, which is a traditional method for building cardigans. This technique involves knitting the back and front pieces separately from the bottom edge upward, then seaming them together. Working flat (back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round) allows for easy shaping and provides clear row-by-row construction instructions.

The garment features raglan sleeve shaping, a classic design element where the sleeves are decreased diagonally from the armhole to the neckline, creating a smooth line from the shoulder to the neck. This shaping technique requires strategic decreases worked at regular intervals to achieve the proper fit and silhouette.

Additional design details include textured edges and functional pockets, which enhance both the visual interest and practicality of the cardigan. The pockets are constructed as separate linings that are incorporated into the garment during assembly.

Stitches Used

The Sedgewick employs two primary stitches throughout its construction:

• Broken Rib: A textured stitch pattern worked over an eight-row repeat using an odd number of stitches. This stitch alternates between knit and purl stitches in a broken pattern across right-side rows, with purl rows interspersed to create visual texture. The Broken Rib stitch is used for the lower edge of the cardigan, providing elasticity and a refined, textured appearance that frames the body.
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch used for the majority of the cardigan body and all shaping sections. Stockinette stitch creates a smooth, classic fabric with a V-shaped texture on the right side, making it ideal for a versatile, wearable garment.

Edge stitches are maintained in Stockinette throughout the Broken Rib sections to create clean, finished edges that are easier to seam together.

Shaping and Fit Details

The cardigan incorporates side decreases worked at strategic intervals to create a fitted silhouette. These decreases are performed using standard decrease techniques (ssk and k2tog) positioned one stitch in from the edges for a neat, professional appearance. The body is shaped with decreases every 10 rows over multiple repeats, creating gradual tapering that flatters the figure.

Raglan armhole shaping begins with a bind-off at the beginning of two rows, followed by paired decreases on right-side rows. The frequency of these decreases varies by size, with smaller sizes requiring more frequent decreases to reach the final stitch count, while larger sizes work fewer decrease rows before completing the raglan shaping.

Materials and Needles

The pattern specifies the use of smaller needles for the ribbed cuff and pocket linings, with a transition to larger needles for the main body fabric. This needle size variation is a standard technique that creates a tighter, more elastic edge that resists stretching while maintaining gauge consistency throughout the garment. The pattern is designed to work with Classic Elite Yarns products, though specific yarn weight and yardage information would be found in the complete pattern details.

Skill Level

The Sedgewick is rated as an Intermediate skill level project. This classification reflects the combination of basic stitches with more advanced techniques including raglan shaping, multiple decreases, and garment assembly. Knitters with experience in basic stitches and simple shaping will find this project manageable and rewarding.