Noro Cropped Jacket (Akita 2) Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Noro Cropped Jacket (Akita 2)

What Is Being Made

The Noro Cropped Jacket (Akita 2) is a seamless, top-down knitted cardigan designed to fit bust sizes 34–38 inches with finished measurements of 42 inches width and 19 inches length. This cropped style features a contemporary silhouette with five-button closure and functional patch pockets, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and seasons.

Construction Techniques

This cardigan is constructed using seamless, top-down methodology, meaning the garment is worked from the neckline downward without requiring seaming. The jacket is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for easy shaping and button band integration. The top-down approach enables the knitter to try on the piece during construction and adjust length as needed before binding off.

Raglan shaping is incorporated to create tailored sleeve cap decreases. The pattern includes strategic shaping at side edges with decreases worked on rows 19, 39, and 59 to achieve a refined fit. Button placement is marked at five positions, with the first button positioned at row 15, the final button integrated into the neckband, and three additional buttons spaced evenly between these points.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch throughout the body and sleeves, created by knitting on right-side-facing rows and purling on wrong-side-facing rows, producing a smooth, classic fabric
• Reverse Stockinette Stitch: Used for decorative edging and button band borders, creating textured vertical lines that frame the front opening
• Cable Twists (T3B and T3F): Twisted cable stitches that add visual interest and texture. T3B (twist 3 back) involves slipping two stitches onto a cable needle, holding at the back, knitting the next stitch, then knitting the two stitches from the cable needle. T3F (twist 3 front) reverses this process by holding the cable needle at the front, creating a mirrored effect
• Decreases (K2tog): Knit two stitches together to shape the raglan armholes and side seams
• Make One Increase (M1K): Picking up the horizontal loop between stitches and knitting into the back loop to add stitches where shaping requires increases

Materials and Gauge

The Noro Cropped Jacket requires 250 grams of Noro Kureyon yarn (shade 371 shown in the example), a variegated wool yarn known for its vibrant color transitions and excellent stitch definition. A pair of 6mm (US 10) needles is used throughout construction. Five buttons are required for closure.

The recommended gauge is 16 stitches by 23 rows per 4-inch square measured over Stockinette stitch using 6mm needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and ensuring the garment fits as intended. Knitters should always knit a gauge swatch before beginning the project and adjust needle size if necessary to match the specified gauge.

Pattern Structure

The pattern provides detailed row-by-row instructions for both the left and right fronts, with clear designation of right-side-facing (RSF) and wrong-side-facing (WSF) rows. The front pieces begin with a decorative edge featuring the cable twist pattern, followed by Stockinette stitch body sections. Decreases are worked strategically to shape the raglan armholes while maintaining pattern continuity on the button bands.