Louisa Harding Forage Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Louisa Harding Forage Cardigan: Knitted Bottom-Up Design with Cable and Lace Details

What Is Being Made

The Forage cardigan is a knitted garment designed by Louisa Harding, featured in publication #137 Esquel. This is a classic cardigan construction worked from the bottom up, combining structural cable elements with delicate lace patterning for a sophisticated, layered aesthetic suitable for various occasions and seasons.

Construction Method and Techniques

This cardigan employs a bottom-up construction approach, meaning the garment is knitted starting from the lower edge and progressing upward toward the neckline. The pieces are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional seaming to join the body, sleeves, and finishing elements together. This flat-working method provides excellent stitch definition and control over shaping.

The design incorporates cable knitting techniques, which create raised, twisted rope-like textures that add visual interest and dimensional depth to the fabric. Cables are formed by crossing groups of stitches over one another in a coordinated pattern, requiring careful stitch manipulation but resulting in striking three-dimensional effects.

Complementing the cables, lace knitting is integrated into the design, introducing openwork sections created through strategic yarn-overs and decreases. Lace adds airiness and elegance while maintaining the structural integrity of the garment.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Forage cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined in sophisticated arrangements:

• Cable stitches for textured, dimensional sections
• Lace stitches incorporating yarn-overs and decreases for openwork patterning
• Standard knit and purl stitches forming the base fabric and ribbing

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Specific yarn weight, yardage, needle size, and fiber content details are provided within the downloadable PDF pattern. Knitters should refer to the complete pattern document for precise material requirements, gauge specifications, and needle recommendations necessary for successful project completion.

Pattern Information

This is a downloadable PDF pattern published by Knitting Fever, Inc. (KFI) and intended for personal use only. The pattern includes measurements and gauge guidelines to assist knitters in achieving the intended finished dimensions. For technical questions or pattern support, knitters may contact Knitting Fever through knittingfever.com.