Nilaveli Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Nilaveli Cardigan in Juniper Moon Farm Neve

What is Being Made

The Nilaveli Cardigan is a knitted button-up cardigan designed by Tabetha Hedrick using Juniper Moon Farm Neve yarn in cherry berry colorway. This garment is available in seven sizes ranging from extra small through 3X, with finished bust circumferences from 33¾ inches (85.5 cm) to 59¼ inches (150.5 cm) and lengths between 20 and 22¾ inches (51 to 58 cm). The cardigan features a sophisticated lace pattern that creates visual interest while maintaining wearability across multiple size ranges.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The Nilaveli Cardigan is worked flat rather than in the round, meaning the body and sleeves are knitted in separate pieces and then assembled. This construction method allows for easier pattern management and shaping at key areas. The garment employs strategic decreasing and yarn over techniques to maintain pattern continuity during armhole and neckline shaping. When working the lace pattern during shaping, the designer recommends working one decrease for every yarn over to ensure the stitch pattern remains balanced and visually cohesive. If space becomes limited during shaping, yarn overs may be omitted while maintaining their corresponding decreases to preserve the garment's structure.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Nilaveli Cardigan features two primary stitch patterns:

• K2P2 Rib: A classic ribbed stitch used for edgings and cuffs, worked over a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2. This rib pattern alternates knit and purl stitches to create vertical lines that provide stretch and recovery, making it ideal for cuffs, hems, and button bands.
• Nilaveli Stitch: The signature lace pattern that gives this cardigan its distinctive character. This 12-row repeat stitch pattern works over a multiple of 8 stitches plus 4. The Nilaveli Stitch incorporates multiple lace techniques including yarn overs (Yox2 indicates double yarn overs), knit two together decreases (k2tog), and slip-slip-knit decreases (ssk). The pattern creates an intricate openwork design with strategic placement of decreases and increases that form the lace motif. Rows alternate between right-side and wrong-side rows, with wrong-side rows using knit and purl stitches to frame the lace elements created on right-side rows.

Materials and Tools

The Nilaveli Cardigan requires Juniper Moon Farm Neve yarn in the cherry berry colorway (#22). Yardage requirements vary by size, with smaller sizes needing 4 skeins of 100 grams each and larger sizes requiring 5 or 6 skeins, providing sufficient yardage for the complete garment. Knitting is worked on US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles measuring 24 inches in length, though the pattern notes that needles should be sized to achieve the specified gauge. Additional materials include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming, and two stitch markers to help track pattern repeats and construction points.

Gauge and Sizing Information

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in the Nilaveli Stitch pattern. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements, and the pattern emphasizes taking time to check gauge before beginning construction. The seven available sizes accommodate a wide range of body measurements, making this cardigan accessible to many knitters.