Noro Lace Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Noro Lace Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Noro Lace Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan featuring elegant lace patterning throughout. This garment is designed with three finished bust sizes: 37"/94cm, 45"/114cm, and 53"/134.5cm, with corresponding lengths of 22¾"/58cm, 24¼"/61.5cm, and 25¼"/64cm. The cardigan includes eight 5/8"/15mm buttons for closure, making it a practical yet decorative layering piece.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using several key knitting techniques that define its construction method:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is worked from the bottom edge upward, beginning with the body cast-on
• Seamless construction: The design minimizes seaming by utilizing circular needles for the main body sections, reducing finishing work
• Worked flat: Despite using circular needles, the piece is worked back and forth in flat rows rather than in the round, allowing for traditional row-by-row shaping
• Twisted edge technique: A decorative twisted edge is created by lifting the left-hand needle over the right-hand needle from back to front between knit stitches, adding textural interest to the lower edge
• One-row buttonhole: Buttonholes are worked using a slip-stitch method where stitches are bound off and then cast back on in a single row, creating clean, functional closures
• Lace pattern shaping: Yarn-overs and decreases are strategically worked only when they have matching counterparts in the lace pattern, with incomplete pattern repeats worked in stockinette stitch

Stitches Used

The Noro Lace Cardigan employs fundamental knitting stitches combined with lace techniques:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): Used as the base fabric for sections where the lace pattern does not apply, particularly in incomplete pattern repeats and shaping areas
• Garter stitch: Created by knitting every row, used for the initial 5-row edge that provides structure and prevents curling
• Lace Pattern A: A 28-stitch repeat lace pattern that forms the primary decorative element of the cardigan, worked from a chart and repeated across the width of the piece
• Yarn-overs (yo's): Essential to lace construction, these create the characteristic openwork holes and are paired with decreases to maintain stitch count
• Decreases: Paired with yarn-overs to shape the garment while maintaining the integrity of the lace pattern

Materials

The Noro Lace Cardigan is constructed using Noro Taiyo Sock yarn in colorway #3. Yarn quantities vary by size: 3 skeins for the smallest size (37" bust), 4 skeins for the medium size (45" bust), and 5 skeins for the largest size (53" bust).

The pattern requires size 3 (3.25mm) needles in multiple configurations to accommodate different sections of the garment. Specifically, the project calls for one 32"/80cm circular needle for the main body sections, one pair of straight needles for sections worked flat, and one set of five double-pointed needles for smaller circumference areas such as sleeves or ribbing. Eight 5/8"/15mm buttons are needed for the cardigan closure.

The recommended gauge is 28 stitches and 36 rows over 4"/10cm when working the lace pattern using size 3 (3.25mm) needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and ensuring the lace pattern displays as intended.