MillaMia Blaze Fair Isle Cardigan Knitting Pattern

MillaMia Blaze Fair Isle Cardigan

What is Being Made

The MillaMia Blaze Fair Isle Cardigan is a knitted button-front cardigan featuring a colorful Fair Isle pattern. This intermediate-level project is designed to fit chest sizes ranging from 82cm to 107cm (32 to 42 inches), with finished chest measurements from 88cm to 120cm (34¾ to 47¼ inches). The cardigan includes a 40cm sleeve length and lengths to shoulder ranging from 55cm to 60cm (21¾ to 23¾ inches) depending on size. The design incorporates nine buttons for closure and is worked in a classic Fair Isle stranded colorwork technique.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using several key knitting techniques:

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing for straightforward shaping and sizing adjustments
• Stranded Fair Isle: The Fair Isle pattern is worked using the stranded colorwork method, where multiple colors are carried across the row to create the intricate design
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles rather than in the round, creating separate front, back, and sleeve pieces
• Seamed construction: The individual pieces are sewn together using mattress stitch or similar seaming techniques to create the finished garment

Stitches Used

The MillaMia Blaze Fair Isle Cardigan primarily employs fundamental knitting stitches:

• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch): The main fabric structure, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side
• Knit and purl stitches: Basic stitches that form the foundation of the Fair Isle pattern
• Decreases: Techniques such as knit 2 together (k2tog) and slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (skpo) are used for shaping at armholes and neckline
• Yarn round needle (yrn): Used to create eyelet details or pattern variations within the Fair Isle design

Materials and Tools

The cardigan is worked in MillaMia Naturally Soft Cotton, a premium yarn exclusively available at lovecrafts.com. The project requires:

• Yarn quantities: 5 to 7 balls of 50g/1¾oz in the main color (Black 300 for the primary colorway), plus 1 ball each in four contrast colors for the Fair Isle pattern (Bright Green 330, English Rose 342, Indigo Purple 321, and Lemon Yellow 333). Alternative colorways are provided, including Colourway 2 (Pure White, Flamingo, Sweetpea, Duck Egg Teal, and Seaweed) and Colourway 3 (Mid Grey, Baby Blue, Bright Purple, Off White, and Bright Red)
• Needles: A pair of 3mm (US 2) knitting needles for ribbing and a pair of 3.25mm (US 3) knitting needles for the main fabric
• Notions: Nine buttons for the front closure

Tension and Skill Level

The pattern is worked to a tension of 25 stitches and 34 rows over a 10cm/4-inch square in stocking stitch using 3.25mm (US 3) needles. This is classified as an intermediate skill level project, suitable for knitters with experience in basic techniques who are ready to tackle the additional complexity of Fair Isle colorwork and garment shaping.

Construction Notes

The pattern includes practical guidance for finishing, such as using stitch markers to measure and space the nine buttons evenly before sewing them onto the button bands. The cardigan's Fair Isle pattern creates an optical illusion effect, adding visual interest to the finished garment. The design is available in multiple colorways, allowing knitters to customize their project while following the same construction method.