Plymouth Yarn Women's Cable and Lace Cardigan Knitting

Plymouth Yarn Women's Cable and Lace Cardigan

Garment Overview

This women's cardigan combines elegant cable and lace stitch patterns with a classic seamed construction. The design features a sophisticated blend of textural elements, making it suitable for both casual and dressy occasions. The cardigan is available in five sizes, with finished chest measurements ranging from 34 inches to 50 inches, and a length between 26 and 28 inches depending on size.

Construction Method

The cardigan is worked flat using a bottom-up construction approach. The body is knitted as one continuous piece from the hem to the armholes, eliminating the need for multiple seams in the main body section. Sleeves are worked separately from cuff to armhole, then joined to the body. Once joined, the sleeves and body are shaped together using raglan decreases that extend from the armholes to the shoulders, creating a smooth, fitted silhouette.

Stitch Techniques and Patterns

This pattern showcases multiple stitch techniques that work together to create visual interest and texture:

• Cable Stitches: A cable and lace panel worked over 35 stitches forms the focal point of the design. This intricate panel combines twisted stitches characteristic of cables with openwork elements from lace, creating a sophisticated textural contrast.
• Lace Stitches: A separate lace panel spans 15 stitches and is integrated into the overall pattern layout, adding delicate openwork details to the cardigan.
• 1x1 Ribbing: The cuffs, hem, and button bands are finished with 1x1 ribbing, which provides elasticity and a polished, professional edge. This ribbing is worked over an odd number of stitches, alternating knit and purl stitches in a regular pattern.
• Stockinette Stitch: Used as the base fabric throughout the garment, stockinette stitch provides a smooth, classic background that allows the cable and lace panels to stand out.

Yarn and Materials

The cardigan is designed to be knitted with Encore Worsted yarn by Plymouth Yarn. Yardage requirements range from 6 to 8 balls of 100-gram weight depending on the finished size. The pattern is shown in color 6002 Rimouski, with an alternative colorway option in 678 Green Frost Heather, allowing knitters to choose between neutral and jewel-toned options.

Needles and Notions

The pattern requires US size 8 (5mm) needles in both straight and 24-inch circular formats. The circular needle accommodates the large number of stitches when working the body flat. Additional notions include:

• Six stitch markers in one color for general pattern tracking
• Four stitch markers in a contrasting color specifically for marking raglan seams
• Two stitch holders for managing stitches during construction
• A cable needle for executing cable twists

Gauge and Sizing

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit. The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US size 8 needles. For the ribbed sections, the gauge is 19 stitches over 4 inches in 1x1 ribbing on the same needle size. The pattern is written for the smallest size with larger sizes provided in parentheses, allowing customization across a range of body measurements.

Design Features

The cardigan includes practical design elements such as pocket linings that are cast on separately, worked in stockinette stitch to a depth of 7 inches, and held on stitch holders for later integration into the main body. The body begins with a 2-inch ribbed hem that provides structure and prevents rolling, followed by the patterned sections that showcase the cable and lace work.

Skill Level Considerations

This pattern is suitable for intermediate to advanced knitters due to the combination of techniques required. Knitters must be comfortable with cable stitches, lace pattern reading, working from charts, managing multiple stitch markers, using a cable needle, and executing raglan shaping. The use of a circular needle worked flat is an efficient method that reduces the complexity of managing a large number of stitches compared to traditional straight needles.