Lana Grossa Jacket Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Lana Grossa Jacket in Allora

What is Being Made

The Lana Grossa Jacket in Allora is a sophisticated knitted cardigan jacket designed in three sizes (36–40, 42–46, and 48/50). This garment features a classic structured silhouette with set-in sleeves and a shaped neckline, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and seasons.

Techniques Used

This jacket is constructed using bottom-up knitting methodology, meaning the pieces are worked from the cast-on edge upward toward the shoulders and neckline. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, and all pieces are seamed together once completed. This traditional construction method allows for precise shaping and patterning throughout the design.

The pattern incorporates charted stitch patterns that guide the knitter through the design details. Charts are provided for the sleeves (Charts A and B), the back and left front (Charts C and D), and the right front (Charts E and F). The charts indicate wrong-side rows on the left edge and right-side rows on the right edge, with pattern repeats clearly marked between arrows for ease of following.

Stitches Used

The jacket employs several fundamental knitting stitches to create its structure and texture:

• Knit stitch: Used throughout the charted patterns to create the primary fabric
• Purl stitch: Incorporated in the charted designs and used for selvage stitches on every row (first and last stitch of each row are purled) to create neat, finished edges
• Garter stitch: Created by knitting every row, this stitch may be used in specific sections for texture and stability

Increases and decreases are strategically placed to shape the sleeves and neckline. Sleeve shaping involves increasing one stitch at each end on the 5th row, then continuing increases every 8th row for 11 times, followed by increases every 6th row 2 times, creating a gradual cap sleeve that fits smoothly into the armhole.

Materials and Tools

The Lana Grossa Jacket in Allora is worked in Lana Grossa Allora yarn, a premium blend composed of 76% cotton, 14% superfine Merino wool, and 10% baby alpaca. This fiber composition creates a fabric that is breathable, soft, and durable—ideal for a jacket that will be worn close to the skin. The yarn is worked at a yardage of 300 meters per 50 grams.

Yarn requirements vary by size: Size 36–40 requires 550 grams (approximately 3,300 meters), Size 42–46 requires 600 grams (approximately 3,600 meters), and Size 48/50 requires 650 grams (approximately 3,900 meters). Two strands of yarn are held together throughout the entire project, which creates a thicker, more substantial fabric and allows the jacket to drape elegantly while maintaining structure.

The pattern calls for size 5 mm and size 6 mm knitting needles. The smaller 5 mm needles are used for the initial cast-on and the first 5 rows of each piece to create a tighter, more elastic edge. The work then transitions to size 6 mm needles for the main body and pattern sections, which creates a slight gauge change that adds visual interest and ensures proper fit. A size 5 mm circular needle measuring 80 centimeters long is also required, likely for finishing techniques such as binding off or picking up stitches for neckline finishing.

Construction Details

The jacket pieces are constructed individually and then seamed together. The left front begins with 54 (58, 62) stitches cast on with two strands held together using size 5 mm needles. After working Chart C for 5 rows (measuring 2 centimeters), the knitter changes to size 6 mm needles and works Chart D for 168 rows, which measures 60 centimeters in length. A marker is placed to indicate the beginning of the armhole shaping. Armhole shaping continues for an additional 45 (49, 51) rows, measuring 16 (17, 18) centimeters from the armhole marker.

Neck shaping is worked at the beginning of wrong-side rows with strategic bind-offs: 7 stitches bound off once, 4 stitches once, 3 stitches once, 2 stitches once, and