Noreen Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Noreen Cardigan in Berroco Lanas Quick

What Is Being Made

The Noreen Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted jacket designed by Åsa Buchta. This garment features a distinctive modular construction with colorful squares that can be arranged in various combinations. The cardigan is available in three finished bust sizes: 48 inches, 60 inches, and 72 inches, with a consistent length of 20 inches across all sizes. The design includes front opening with a gap, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and seasons.

Construction and Techniques

The Noreen Cardigan is constructed using a modular, patchwork approach. The jacket is worked in separate pieces rather than in the round, and these pieces are subsequently seamed together. A notable feature of this design is that the front pieces are worked sideways, progressing from the side seam toward the front opening. This sideways construction method allows for interesting color placement and pattern flexibility. After the main pieces are completed, stitches for the bottom and front hems are picked up from the existing fabric, creating finished edges. The pattern includes a blank diagram option, allowing knitters to customize their own color square arrangement rather than following the original sample design.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used in the Noreen Cardigan is Garter Stitch, which creates a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. Garter stitch is formed by knitting every row, making it an ideal choice for intermediate knitters as it requires no complex stitch manipulation while producing an attractive, durable fabric. The modular design is based on individual squares, each measuring 6 inches by 6 inches, which are the fundamental building blocks of the cardigan's construction.

Yarn and Materials

This cardigan is designed to be knitted with Berroco Lanas Quick, a yarn that comes in 100-gram hanks. The pattern calls for a total of 13 to 15 hanks of yarn depending on size, distributed across seven coordinating colors:

• Cream (C1): 2 hanks for all sizes
• Olive (C2): 2 to 3 hanks depending on size
• Grapefruit (C3): 1 hank
• Coast (C4): 1 hank
• Lime Light (C5): 2 hanks
• Faded Jeans (C6): 2 hanks
• Steel Oats (C7): 3 to 4 hanks depending on size

The recommended knitting needles are size 11 (8 mm) or whatever size is needed to obtain the correct gauge. Additional materials required include a tapestry needle for seaming and waste yarn for holding stitches during construction.

Gauge and Sizing

The gauge for this project is 12 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Garter Stitch, measured after blocking. Accurate gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements, and the pattern recommends taking time to check gauge before beginning. The cardigan is designed with 8 to 16 inches of positive ease, providing a comfortable, relaxed fit. The pattern notes that yarn amounts listed are calculated based on the original sample's color distribution; using different proportions of the seven colors may affect the total yarn requirements for individual colors.