Sesia Avery Duster Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Sesia Avery Duster

What is Being Made

The Sesia Avery Duster is a knitted cardigan designed by Teresa Chorzepa. This garment is a lightweight, open-front duster-style cardigan available in three sizes: Small/Medium, Large/XL, and 2X/3X. The finished bust measurements range from 47¼ inches (120.5 cm) for the smallest size to 65¼ inches (166 cm) for the largest size, with corresponding lengths from 30¾ inches (78.5 cm) to 34¼ inches (87 cm). The design features an elegant, draping silhouette suitable for layering over other garments.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create its distinctive appearance and structure:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The garment is knitted from the lower edge upward, allowing for easy adjustments to length during the knitting process.
• Worked Flat: The piece is worked on straight needles rather than in the round, creating a two-dimensional fabric that is later seamed together.
• Lace Pattern: The Ripple Pattern stitch creates an openwork lace design throughout the body and sleeves, contributing to the duster's light, airy aesthetic.
• Seamed Construction: After the main piece is completed, it is folded and seamed to create the finished garment structure, with side seams measuring approximately 8 inches (20.5 cm) from the lower edge.

Stitches Used

The Sesia Avery Duster employs a specialized stitch pattern as its foundation:

• Ripple Pattern Stitch: This is the primary stitch pattern used throughout the cardigan. It is worked over a multiple of 14 stitches plus 2 edge stitches and repeats over 12 rows. The pattern combines purl rows with a complex knit row featuring yarn forwards (kfb), decreases (ssk and k2tog), and knit stitches to create the rippling lace effect. This pattern is repeated multiple times across the sleeves and body sections to build the full garment.
• Garter Stitch Edges: Purl stitches are worked at the armhole edges (4 stitches) and neck edges (6 stitches) on every row to create stable, finished edges.
• Basic Decreases: Slip, slip, knit (ssk) and knit two together (k2tog) decreases are incorporated into the Ripple Pattern to shape the fabric and create the lace motifs.
• Yarn Forward Increases: Knit front and back (kfb) increases are used within the pattern to balance the decreases and maintain stitch count while creating the ripple effect.

Materials

The Sesia Avery Duster pattern specifies the following materials for construction:

• Yarn: Sesia BIO BIMBO, a 100% organic cotton yarn. The yardage required varies by size: 8 balls (1,568 yards/1,440 meters) for Small/Medium, 10 balls (1,960 yards/1,800 meters) for Large/XL, and 12 balls (2,352 yards/2,160 meters) for 2X/3X. Each ball weighs 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and contains 196 yards (180 meters). The pattern is worked in color #0222 sand dune.
• Needles: Size 4 (3.5 mm) needles or the size necessary to obtain the correct gauge. The pattern recommends checking gauge before beginning to ensure proper fit.
• Notions: Stitch markers are required to track pattern repeats and construction sections, and a yarn needle is needed for weaving in ends and seaming the garment together.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 27 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when worked in the Ripple Pattern after blocking. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished garment matches the intended measurements. After all knitting is complete, the piece is blocked to measurements, then folded with the front sections overlapping the back section, with cast-on edges matched to bound-off edges at the lower edge and sleeves to create the finished cardigan structure.