Marsali Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Marsali Cardigan in Berroco Lanas Quick

What is Being Made

The Marsali Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Alison Green. This garment is worked primarily in stockinette stitch and features decorative cable panels on the back and front. The cardigan is available in nine different sizes, ranging from 36 inches to 72¾ inches in bust circumference, with finished lengths between 21 and 24½ inches. The design shown in the pattern features Berroco Lanas Quick yarn in Fuchsia (#77207), though the pattern can be adapted to other colorways.

Construction Technique

The Marsali Cardigan employs an efficient one-piece construction method for the body. The garment is cast on and worked in one continuous piece from the bottom up to the underarms, where it is then divided into separate sections for the back and front panels. This seamless approach reduces finishing work and creates a cohesive fabric structure. The sleeves are worked separately in the round using double-pointed needles or preferred small-circumference needles up to the sleeve cap, then switched to working back and forth in rows to shape the cap. This combination of circular and flat knitting allows for both the efficiency of in-the-round work and the shaping control of flat knitting where needed.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The primary stitch pattern used throughout the Marsali Cardigan is stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a V-shaped texture on the right side. The cardigan incorporates cable panels as decorative elements: a back cable panel measuring 8 inches (20 cm) wide worked over 28 stitches, and front cables measuring 1¾ inches (4.5 cm) wide worked over 6 stitches including purls. The lower edge of the garment is finished with Seed Stitch, which alternates knit and purl stitches to create a textured, non-curling border that provides visual interest and structural stability at the cast-on edge.

Yarn and Materials

The Marsali Cardigan is designed to be knitted with Berroco Lanas Quick, a yarn that comes in 100-gram hanks. Depending on the size selected, the pattern requires between 7 and 13 hanks of yarn. The pattern specifies the use of circular needles in sizes 10 (6 mm) and 11 (8 mm), with a 32-inch length for body work. Additionally, double-pointed needles or preferred small-circumference needles in the same sizes are needed for working the sleeves in the round. The pattern also calls for 6 stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping points, and waste yarn for temporarily holding stitches during construction.

Gauge and Sizing

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this project. The pattern specifies a gauge of 11 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch using the larger size 11 (8 mm) needle. The back cable panel should measure 8 inches (20 cm) across 28 stitches, while the front cable should measure 1¾ inches (4.5 cm) across 6 stitches including the purl edges. These gauges are measured after blocking. The pattern recommends approximately 2 to 6 inches of positive ease for a comfortable fit, allowing the cardigan to drape nicely while maintaining structure. Nine size options are provided to accommodate a wide range of body measurements.