Lana Grossa Jacket in Cool Wool Big or Cool Wool Big Hand-Dyed

Lana Grossa Jacket in Cool Wool Big or Cool Wool Big Hand-Dyed

What Is Being Made

This is a classic knitted cardigan jacket designed with a contemporary silhouette. The garment features a structured fit available in three sizes (36/38, 40/42, and 44), making it suitable for a range of body measurements. The jacket is constructed with separate front and back pieces that are seamed together, creating clean, professional finishing.

Techniques Used

The jacket is worked using bottom-up construction, meaning pieces are knitted from the cast-on edge upward toward the shoulders and neckline. All pieces are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional seaming techniques to join the components. The garment employs seamed construction, where individual pieces are carefully stitched together to create the final garment. This method provides durability and a polished appearance.

Stitches and Pattern Details

The jacket incorporates multiple stitch patterns to create visual interest and texture:

• Rib Pattern: A fundamental knit one, purl one (k1, p1) ribbing is used for the lower edge and cuff sections. This elastic stitch pattern provides stretch and recovery, ensuring the jacket maintains its shape around the waistband and wrists. The ribbing extends 5 centimeters from the cast-on edge before transitioning to larger needles.
• Slip Stitch Pattern 1: A more complex textured pattern is introduced after the ribbed section. This slip stitch pattern works over a multiple of 10 stitches plus 9 additional stitches, plus selvage stitches. The pattern is charted and repeated across the body and front pieces, creating a sophisticated surface texture. Slip stitch patterns are known for producing dense, visually interesting fabrics with excellent drape.
• Selvage Stitches: Three-stitch selvages frame the edges, with specific instructions for maintaining selvage stitches on right-side and wrong-side rows (knit on RS, purl on WS). These edge stitches ensure neat, finished edges that are easier to seam.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The jacket is designed for two yarn options, both from the Lana Grossa brand:

• Lana Grossa Cool Wool Big (solid): 100% pure wool with a yardage of 120 meters per 50-gram ball. Yardage requirements are 650 grams (size 36/38), 700 grams (size 40/42), or 750 grams (size 44). The solid version is available in Rosewood (color 953).
• Lana Grossa Cool Wool Big Hand-Dyed: Also 100% pure wool but with increased yardage at 240 meters per 100-gram ball, reflecting the hand-dyed nature of the yarn. Yardage requirements are 700 grams (size 36/38), 800 grams (size 40/42), or 850 grams (size 44). The hand-dyed version is available in a multicolor palette including Red, Terracotta, Pink, Cyclamen, Chocolate Brown, and Antique Pink (color 201).

Needles

The pattern requires two needle sizes to create the proper gauge and fabric characteristics. Size 3.5 mm needles are used for the ribbed sections, creating a tighter, more elastic fabric. Size 4.5 mm needles are used for the main body and slip stitch pattern sections, allowing the yarn to work at a more relaxed gauge and showcase the textured pattern.

Construction Details

The left front panel begins with casting on 70, 74, or 78 stitches depending on size. The piece is worked in ribbing for 5 centimeters, then transitions to the slip stitch pattern. The main body section measures 58, 59, or 60 centimeters in length before shoulder shaping begins. Shoulder shaping is accomplished through strategic bind-offs at the beginning of right-side rows, gradually reducing stitches to create the armhole and shoulder line. The final 28 stitches are reserved for the collar. This structured shaping technique ensures a well-fitted garment with proper shoulder placement.