Morning Glory Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Morning Glory Cardigan in Juniper Moon Farm Findley

What Is Being Made

The Morning Glory cardigan is a dainty, open-front cardigan inspired by Jane Austen novels and part of The English Garden Collection. This sweet sweater features a lace body paired with stockinette stitch bodice and sleeves, making it an elegant addition to any wardrobe. The cardigan is available in seven sizes ranging from XS to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 35 inches (89 cm) to 53½ inches (136 cm) and lengths from 23¼ inches (59 cm) to 27¼ inches (69 cm).

Knitting Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to create its refined appearance. The construction begins with cast-on stitches and uses circular needles for flat knitting across multiple pieces. Armhole shaping is achieved through strategic bind-offs at the beginning of wrong-side rows, creating clean, structured edges. Decreasing is worked at specific intervals to taper the garment and create proper fit. The design incorporates buttonhole construction using the yarn-over and knit-two-together method, which creates functional eyelets for button placement. These buttonholes are spaced evenly every 10 rows along the front border, with the number of buttonholes varying by size. The pattern requires reading ahead and working shaping simultaneously with other stitch patterns, demonstrating intermediate-level construction skills.

Stitches Used

The Morning Glory cardigan combines two primary stitch patterns to achieve its distinctive aesthetic:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): Used for the bodice and sleeves, this fundamental stitch creates a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side and bumpy texture on the wrong side.
• Lace Pattern: Applied to the body of the cardigan, the lace stitch creates an open, delicate fabric that provides visual interest and a romantic quality consistent with the Jane Austen inspiration.
• Garter Stitch: Used for the front borders and button band, garter stitch creates a textured, reversible fabric that provides structure and prevents curling at the edges.

Additional stitch techniques include yarn-over (yo) stitches for creating buttonholes and contributing to the lace pattern, and decreasing methods such as knit two together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) for shaping the armholes and sleeve caps.

Materials and Tools

The Morning Glory cardigan is knitted using Juniper Moon Farm Findley yarn in the color #30 Lilac Bushes. The yardage requirement is 2 to 3 balls depending on size, with smaller sizes (XS through L) requiring 2 balls and larger sizes (1X, 2X, and 3X) requiring 3 balls. The yarn is worked on US 3 / 3.25 mm circular needles measuring 36 inches (90 cm) in length, allowing for comfortable flat knitting of the cardigan pieces. The gauge is 24 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in both the pattern stitch and stockinette stitch, ensuring consistent sizing across all garment pieces. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, scrap yarn or a stitch holder for temporarily securing stitches, and three ¾-inch (20 mm) diameter buttons for the front closure.