Olgajazzy Ayase Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Olgajazzy Ayase Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Olgajazzy Ayase Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan inspired by the city of Ayase in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The design translates the textured circular patterns found on a manhole cover in Ayase into circular cables worked into the fabric of this top-down yoked cardigan. This garment combines intricate cable work with strategic shaping and clean finishing details, making it an exciting yet technically challenging project for experienced knitters.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using several advanced knitting techniques that work together to create both visual interest and proper fit:

• Top-down construction: The cardigan is worked from the neckline downward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments as you progress
• Seamless construction: Eliminating the need for seaming, this method creates a continuous, unified garment
• Worked flat and in the round: The pattern combines both working methods to accommodate the cardigan's open front design and body shaping
• Yoked shaping: Shaping occurs within the cabled tiers of the yoke, integrating decreases into the cable pattern itself for a sophisticated design
• I-cord finishing: Both incorporated and applied I-cords trim the cardigan edges, creating clean, professional finishing on the front bands and other openings

Stitches Used

The Ayase Cardigan features a variety of knitting stitches that create its distinctive textured appearance:

• Cable stitches: Circular cables form the primary design element, inspired by the manhole cover pattern and arranged in tiers throughout the yoke
• Knit and purl stitches: These fundamental stitches create contrast and texture around the cables
• Increases: M1L (make 1 left) and M1R (make 1 right) increases are used for strategic shaping within the cable pattern
• Slipped stitches: Edge stitches are slipped knitwise on right-side rows and purlwise on wrong-side rows to create clean selvage edges
• I-cord stitches: Applied and incorporated I-cords provide finished edges throughout the garment

Materials

The Ayase Cardigan is designed to be worked in worsted weight yarn. The pattern specifies Fibre Company Organik, a blend of 70% organic merino, 15% alpaca, and 15% silk, which provides both warmth and drape ideal for a cardigan. Yardage requirements range from 960 to 1,550 yards depending on size, with 10 to 16 skeins of the 50g/98yd yarn needed. Alternatively, any worsted weight yarn totaling the required yardage may be substituted.

Needles required include US 8 (5 mm) circular needles in 24-inch length, or the size needed to obtain the pattern's specified gauge. The pattern also calls for a larger needle and scrap yarn for the crochet provisional cast-on method used to begin the cardigan at the neckline.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The Ayase Cardigan is available in ten sizes to fit bust measurements from 34 inches to 52 inches (closed, not overlapped). Finished bust measurements range from 34.5 to 52.5 inches, and length from back neck varies from 23.75 to 26.5 inches depending on the size selected. This range of sizes ensures a proper fit for a wide variety of body types.