Debbie Bliss Girl's Shawl Collared Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Debbie Bliss Girl's Shawl Collared Cardigan

Project Overview

This is a knitted cardigan designed for girls, featuring a distinctive shawl collar construction. The garment is worked in a bottom-up method, meaning you begin knitting from the lower edge and progress upward toward the shoulders and neckline. The shawl collar is a classic design element that drapes elegantly across the chest and shoulders, offering both style and practicality for layering.

Construction Technique

The cardigan is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, which means you knit back and forth in rows to create the front and back panels as well as the sleeves. Once all pieces are completed, they are seamed together using a mattress stitch or similar joining method to create a finished, professional appearance. This construction method allows for precise shaping and makes it easier to incorporate design details like the shawl collar.

Closures and Finishing

The cardigan features buttonholes positioned along the front opening to accommodate buttons as the primary closure mechanism. Buttonholes are created during the knitting process by binding off a small number of stitches in a designated row, then casting those stitches back on in the following row. This creates an opening through which buttons can be threaded. The button placement and spacing are carefully calculated to ensure the cardigan closes neatly and lies flat when fastened.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

This intermediate-level pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches and techniques, including:

• Knit stitch (K) and purl stitch (P) - the two basic stitches that form the foundation of all knitted fabric
• Ribbing - an elastic stitch pattern typically used at cuffs, waistbands, and necklines to provide stretch and a neat finish
• Garter stitch - created by knitting every row, producing a bumpy, textured fabric with excellent drape
• Moss stitch (also called seed stitch) - an alternating pattern of knit and purl stitches that creates a subtle, textured surface
• Increases such as make one (m1) and knit into front and back (kfb) - techniques used to add stitches for shaping the bust, armholes, and sleeve cap
• Decreases such as knit 2 together (k2tog), slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (skpo), and slip 2 together, knit 1, pass 2 slipped stitches over (s2togkpo) - techniques used to reduce stitches for shaping shoulders and tapering sleeves
• Cast on and cast off - methods for creating the initial foundation row and securing the final edge to prevent unravelling

Yarn and Materials

This pattern is designed to be worked in Rialto DK, a yarn from the Debbie Bliss collection. DK stands for "double knitting," a standard yarn weight that is lighter than worsted but heavier than fingering weight, making it ideal for garments with good drape and stitch definition. You will need knitting needles appropriate for DK-weight yarn, as specified in the pattern instructions, along with buttons for the front closure.

Difficulty Level

This cardigan is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and simple shaping but are ready to tackle more complex construction techniques. The combination of seaming, buttonhole placement, and shawl collar shaping requires attention to detail and familiarity with standard knitting abbreviations and techniques.

Pattern Format

This design is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing you to access the complete pattern instructions, schematic diagrams, and stitch abbreviations at your convenience. The pattern uses standard knitting terminology with US equivalents provided in parentheses for international knitters.