Jo Sharp Ripple Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Jo Sharp Ripple Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Jo Sharp Ripple Cardigan is a lightweight, stretch-to-fit cardigan designed for women in four sizes (A through D, fitting bust measurements from 80cm to 110cm). This garment features a distinctive rippled texture created through strategic increases and decreases that give the fabric a ruffled, dimensional appearance. The cardigan is intentionally designed as a quick-knit project, requiring only four to five balls of yarn, making it an accessible pattern for knitters seeking an elegant, wearable piece.

Techniques Used

The Ripple Cardigan employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the garment is knitted starting from the lower edge and progressing upward. The cardigan is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, and pieces are seamed together to create the finished garment. The ripple effect that defines this design is achieved through deliberate shaping rows that incorporate both increases and decreases at strategic intervals. The garment features a yoke at the top, with the body and sleeves shaped to meet this upper section. The bodice circumference measurement is taken in an area where the fabric is not ruffled, as the rippling effect distorts standard measurements.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st) — the primary stitch structure for the main body of the cardigan
• Ribbing — alternating knit and purl stitches (K1, P1) used for edging and borders
• Knit Front and Back (Kfb) — an increase technique used to add stitches for shaping the sleeve cap and bodice
• Knit Two Together (K2tog) — a decrease technique used to create the ripple pattern and shape the garment

The ripple pattern is created through a series of decrease rows followed by increase rows, worked at specific intervals to produce the characteristic ruffled texture. Shaping increases are worked on the sixth rows multiple times to gradually expand the sleeve cap, while strategic decreases and increases in the bodice create the ripple effect that gives the cardigan its distinctive visual character.

Materials

The Jo Sharp Ripple Cardigan is knitted using Jo Sharp Mulberry Silk Georgette yarn in the color Infinite (code 768). The pattern requires 4 to 5 balls of 50-gram weight, depending on the size selected (sizes A and B require 4 balls, while sizes C and D require 5 balls). The garment is worked on large 6.00mm needles, which contribute to the quick-knit nature of the project and create the lightweight, fluid drape characteristic of this design. The mulberry silk content provides a luxurious feel and elegant sheen, while the georgette construction ensures the fabric remains breathable and comfortable for wear.