Hazelnut Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Hazelnut Cardigan in Noro Tsuido

What is Being Made

The Hazelnut Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed in eight size options ranging from Small to 5X. This garment features a fitted silhouette with finished bust measurements from 40 inches (101.5 cm) in the smallest size up to 68½ inches (174 cm) in the largest size. The cardigan length varies slightly across sizes, ranging from 28½ inches to 31½ inches (72.5 to 80 cm), providing a classic, wearable cardigan length. Upper arm circumference measurements range from 17 inches to 23 inches (43 to 58 cm), accommodating a wide range of body types.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several fundamental and intermediate shaping techniques to construct a well-fitted garment. The cardigan uses cast on methods to establish the foundation row with the specified number of loops on the knitting needle. Shaping is achieved through increases and decreases worked throughout the pattern. Increases are created using methods such as knit in front and back of stitch and make one techniques, where the needle tip is inserted under the strand between stitches to add new stitches. Decreases reduce stitch counts using methods like knit 2 together and purl 2 together. The pattern incorporates stitch markers placed on the needle to help track pattern sections and shaping points. Pick up and knit techniques are used to add stitches along edges, likely for the button bands or neckline finishing. The pattern includes chart reading with "no stitch" spaces indicating areas where stitches have been decreased or not yet made, requiring the knitter to skip over these shaded spaces while working the remaining stitches.

Stitches Used

The Hazelnut Cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches as its foundation. Knit stitches are worked by inserting the needle as if knitting (knitwise), while purl stitches are created by inserting the needle as if purling (purlwise). The pattern employs make one increases, which add stitches by lifting strands between existing stitches and knitting or purling into the back loop. Slip, slip, knit (abbreviated SSK) decreases are used, where two stitches are slipped knitwise one at a time to the right-hand needle before being worked together. Selvage stitches are incorporated as edge stitches to facilitate easier seaming of the finished garment pieces. The combination of knit and purl stitches, along with these shaping techniques, creates the structure and fit of the cardigan.

Materials

The Hazelnut Cardigan is designed to be worked in Noro Tsuido yarn in colorway #24. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 4 balls (200g each) for the smallest sizes up to 7 balls (200g each) for the largest 5X size, providing approximately 800 to 1,400 grams of yarn depending on the finished garment size. The pattern calls for one US 10/6mm circular needle measuring 32 inches (80 cm) long, which accommodates the width of the cardigan body and allows for working in the round or back and forth as the pattern directs.