Madelinetosh Storyteller Hoodie Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Madelinetosh Storyteller Hoodie

Project Overview

The Storyteller Hoodie is a seamless, bottom-up cardigan knit in one piece, designed by Carina Spencer. This garment features a distinctive construction method where the body is worked flat from the bottom up, while the hood is knit from the neck up and the cap sleeves are picked up and knit in the round. The garter rib border adds textural detail to the design. Minimal finishing is required, with only shoulder and hood grafts needed to complete the sweater.

Construction Techniques

This hoodie employs a bottom-up, seamless construction that minimizes finishing work. The garment is worked flat for the main body sections, allowing knitters to work on circular needles in a back-and-forth motion rather than continuously in the round. The hood is strategically knit from the neck up, and cap sleeves are picked up and knit in the round, showcasing a hybrid approach that combines flat and circular knitting methods. The use of grafting for shoulder and hood joins creates invisible seams that enhance the professional appearance of the finished piece.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Storyteller Hoodie is primarily worked in stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for showcasing yarn color and texture. Garter rib borders provide structural definition and a refined finish along the edges. The gauge for this project is 19 stitches and 29 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving proper fit across the multiple size options available.

Yarn Requirements and Options

The Storyteller Hoodie is designed to be knit in Madelinetosh tosh vintage, a luxurious 100% superwash merino wool yarn that offers both durability and easy care. Each skein contains 200 yards (182 meters) and weighs 100 grams, providing a worsted weight yarn suitable for this project.

The pattern offers three distinct colorway options:

• Single Color Option: Requires 5 to 8 skeins depending on size, with the pictured colorway shown in Alizarin. Approximate yardage needed ranges from 850 to 1500 yards depending on size.
• Two-Color Option (Contrasting Trim): Requires 4 to 6 skeins in Color A and 1 to 2 skeins in Color B, with Color B used for sleeves and borders.
• Three-Color Striped Option: Requires 3 to 5 skeins in Color A, 1 to 2 skeins in Color B, and 2 skeins in Color C, with yarn divided as 53% Color A, 22% Color B, and 25% Color C for optimal color distribution.

The pattern provides generous yardage estimates and recommends purchasing extra yarn to ensure sufficient material for completion.

Needles and Tools

This project requires circular needles and double-pointed needles (DPNs) in US size 7 (4.5mm), or the size necessary to achieve the specified gauge. Circular needle length varies by size: a 36-inch needle accommodates sizes up to 38 inches, while a 47-inch needle is recommended for larger sizes. Additional tools include one DPN for grafting the shoulders and a needle two sizes larger than the gauge needle for binding off the ribbing.

Size Range and Fit

The Storyteller Hoodie is available in multiple sizes to accommodate various body measurements, with detailed yardage and needle recommendations provided for each size option to ensure proper fit and fabric drape.