Jo Sharp Tweed Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Jo Sharp Tweed Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Jo Sharp Tweed Cardigan is a classic fitted cardigan with long sleeves, designed for an intermediate knitter. This seamed, worked-flat garment features a snug fit and comes in four women's sizes to fit bust measurements of 80cm, 90cm, 100cm, and 110cm (approximately 31½, 35⅜, 39⅜, and 43⅜ inches). The cardigan offers a timeless silhouette with a bodice circumference ranging from 89cm to 119cm depending on size, and a bodice length of 62–65cm. Sleeve length measures 43–45cm at the seam.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using seamed knitting worked in the flat method, meaning pieces are knitted separately on straight needles and then joined together. The pattern incorporates shoulder shaping through strategic decreases worked over multiple rows, creating a fitted garment that contours to the body. Increases and decreases are distributed throughout the pattern to achieve the proper fit and shaping, with particular attention paid to armhole and shoulder construction.

Stitches Used

The cardigan is primarily worked in Stocking stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows), which creates the classic smooth, V-textured fabric characteristic of traditional cardigans. The pattern employs fundamental knitting decreases including K2tog (knit 2 stitches together) and K3tog (knit 3 stitches together) for shaping, as well as P2tog (purl 2 stitches together) on wrong-side rows. Increases are created using the M1 (make 1) technique, which involves picking up the loop between stitches and knitting into the back of it. The pattern also uses standard abbreviations such as slip stitches and yarn-over techniques for edge and decorative work.

Materials

The Jo Sharp Tweed Cardigan is designed to be knitted using Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed yarn, a DK-weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition and drape. The project requires two pairs of straight needles: 3.25mm needles (USA size 3, UK size 10) and 4.00mm needles (USA size 6, UK size 8). Additionally, a 3.25mm circular needle measuring 80cm in length is needed, likely for finishing edges such as neckbands or button bands. The use of two needle sizes allows for gauge control and creates definition between ribbed and stockinette sections of the garment.