Noro A-Line Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Noro A-Line Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Noro A-Line Cardigan is a fitted knit cardigan designed with a flattering A-line silhouette that gradually widens from the bust to the hem. This garment is sized for Small (Medium, Large) with finished bust measurements of 38 (40, 42) inches and a finished length of 26 inches. The cardigan is suitable for experienced knitters and features a sophisticated construction technique that creates a professional, wearable piece.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using several key knitting techniques that contribute to its structure and visual appeal:

• Cables: Cable stitches are incorporated into the design, adding textural depth and visual interest to the garment.
• Worked Flat: The cardigan is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for easier seaming and shaping.
• Seamed Construction: Pieces are seamed together after completion, which provides clean finishing and allows for precise garment assembly.
• Increases and Decreases: Strategic shaping is achieved through make one increases and knit/purl two together decreases to create the A-line silhouette.
• Stitch Markers: Markers are used throughout to track pattern repeats and shaping points.
• Chart Reading: The pattern utilizes stitch charts with "no stitch" indicators for areas where stitches have been decreased or not yet made.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a range of fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches:

• Knit and Purl Stitches: The foundation of the fabric, worked both knitwise and purlwise as indicated in the pattern.
• Ribbing: Used for cast-on and cast-off edges to create elastic, finished edges that hold their shape.
• Make One (M1): Both standard make one and make one purl stitch increases are used to add stitches smoothly without creating holes.
• Knit Two Together (K2tog) and Purl Two Together (P2tog): Decrease stitches to shape the garment and create the A-line effect.
• Slip, Slip, Knit/Purl (SSK/SSP): Left-leaning decreases that provide balanced shaping.
• Cable Stitches: Twisted stitches that create the textural cable details throughout the cardigan.
• Selvage Stitches: Edge stitches worked to facilitate clean seaming of the finished pieces.

Materials

The Noro A-Line Cardigan is designed to be worked with premium yarn and appropriately sized needles:

• Yarn: 11 (12, 13) x 50g balls of Noro Silk Garden in colorway #269. This yarn choice provides a luxurious blend suitable for a sophisticated cardigan.
• Needles: One size US 6/4mm circular needle in 24-inch length for smaller sections, and one size US 6/4mm circular needle in 32-inch length for larger sections. Circular needles are used for working flat, allowing for comfortable handling of larger stitch counts.
• Additional Tools: Size E-4/3.5mm crochet hook for finishing details, stitch markers for tracking pattern placement, and contrasting yarn or purchased stitch markers for marking key points throughout construction.

Gauge should be obtained with the US 6/4mm needles to ensure proper fit and finished measurements. The pattern includes detailed instructions for all abbreviations and techniques, making it accessible to experienced knitters ready to tackle cable work and garment seaming.