Plymouth Yarn Open Front Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Plymouth Yarn Yakima Open Front Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Yakima Open Front Cardigan is a seamless, top-down knitted cardigan available in five sizes ranging from Small to XXL. This garment features finished chest measurements of 36 inches (Small) through 52 inches (XXL), with lengths varying from 24 inches to 28 inches depending on size. The cardigan is designed as an open front style, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and seasons.

Construction Techniques

This pattern employs a top-down seamless construction method, which allows knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and easily adjust the length before binding off. The body is worked flat using circular needles in a back-and-forth motion, while the sleeves are worked in the round from the top down using double-pointed needles. This hybrid approach combines the convenience of seamless knitting with the control of flat construction for the main body sections.

The pattern begins with a provisional cast-on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook, which allows for a clean, flexible edge. Knitters then pick up stitches along a seed stitch band that measures approximately 12½ to 14 inches, depending on size. The body sections are established using stitch markers to define the left front, left sleeve, back, right sleeve, and right front, enabling organized increases and pattern placement throughout the construction.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used in this cardigan is seed stitch, which creates a textured, reversible fabric with excellent drape. Seed stitch is worked over an odd number of stitches by alternating knit and purl stitches on every row, creating a bumpy, woven appearance on both sides of the fabric. This stitch is used for the front bands and provides visual interest and structure to the garment.

The main body and sleeves are worked in stockinette stitch (abbreviated st st), which is the fundamental knit stitch pattern consisting of alternating rows of knit stitches on the right side and purl stitches on the wrong side. This creates the smooth, classic knit fabric that forms the base of the cardigan. The pattern also incorporates increases and decreases to shape the garment at strategic points, with stitch markers used throughout to clearly delineate different sections and pattern repeats.

Materials and Gauge

The Yakima Open Front Cardigan is designed to be knitted with Plymouth Yarn Yakima in color 208 Pine. Yardage requirements vary by size: Small, Medium, and Large require 4 hanks of 100 grams each, while Extra Large and XXL require 5 hanks. This totals approximately 400 grams for smaller sizes and 500 grams for larger sizes.

The pattern is worked on US Size 4 (3.5mm) circular needles, specifically requiring both 16-inch and 24-inch lengths to accommodate different sections of the garment. A set of double-pointed needles in the same size is needed for working the sleeves in the round. The recommended gauge is 24 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the specified needles. Additional notions include 8 stitch markers (with 2 in a different color for pattern identification), a size G crochet hook for the provisional cast-on, and scrap yarn for the temporary cast-on edge.

Pattern Features and Notes

This downloadable PDF pattern (Pattern No. 3389) is written with the smallest size as the main instruction, with larger sizes provided in parentheses throughout. When only one number appears without parentheses, that measurement or instruction applies to all sizes. The pattern is suitable for knitters with intermediate experience, as it requires familiarity with top-down construction, working in the round, picking up stitches, and managing multiple stitch markers simultaneously. The combination of flat and circular knitting techniques makes this an excellent project for developing diverse knitting skills.