Madelinetosh Fall Away Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Madelinetosh Fall Away Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Fall Away Cardigan is a feminine cardigan knit in the round from the top down. The design features subtle garter stitch trims and is available in seven sizes ranging from XS (32 inches / 81.5 cm finished bust) to 2XL (49.5 inches / 125.5 cm finished bust).

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several advanced knitting techniques to create its polished construction:

• Top-down seamless construction: The cardigan is worked from the neckline downward in the round, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a continuous, unified garment.
• Raglan shaping: The yoke is shaped using raglan increases placed at marked intervals to create the characteristic diagonal lines from the neckline to the armholes.
• Short-row shaping: The pattern incorporates wrap and turn (w&t) short rows to add depth and shaping to the neckline and front trim areas.
• Worked flat sections: While primarily worked in the round, certain sections including the neckline trim and front trim are worked flat to create reverse stocking stitch details on the right side.

Stitches Used

The Fall Away Cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create texture and structure:

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch): The primary fabric stitch, created by knitting on the right side and purling on the wrong side when working flat, or knitting every round when working in the round.
• Reverse stocking stitch: Used for decorative trim sections, created by purling on the right side and knitting on the wrong side when working flat.
• Garter stitch: Formed by knitting every row, creating the subtle textured trims that frame the neckline and front edges.
• Yarn overs (yo): Used to create decorative increases throughout the pattern.
• Decreases: Slip, slip, knit (ssk) and knit two together (k2tog) decreases are employed for shaping.
• Increases: Knit front and back (kfb), purl front and back (pfb), and make one (m1) increases are used to add stitches for raglan shaping and other design elements.

Materials

The Fall Away Cardigan pattern specifies the following materials:

• Yarn: Madelinetosh Pashmina, with yardage requirements varying by size from 1,080 yards (3 skeins of 360 yards each) for the smallest size to 2,160 yards (6 skeins of 360 yards each) for the largest size.
• Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles, 80 cm long. The smaller needle is used for the initial neck trim cast-on, while the larger needle is used for the main yoke and body.

Pattern Design

This pattern was designed by Heidi Kirrmaier and features a comprehensive abbreviations guide and detailed instructions for executing the top-down raglan construction. The pattern includes a neck trim worked in garter stitch, followed by the yoke section with raglan increases, and continues with the body shaping. The inclusion of short-row shaping in the neckline and front trim areas demonstrates attention to fit and professional finishing details.