Sesia Lilith Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Sesia Lilith Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Sesia Lilith Cardigan is an easy-level knitted cardigan designed by Rosemary Drysdale. This garment is available in five sizes ranging from Small to 2XL, with finished bust measurements from 34½ inches (87.5 cm) to 51¾ inches (131.5 cm) and lengths between 24¼ inches (61.5 cm) and 26¾ inches (68.5 cm). The cardigan features a button-front closure with four 5/8-inch diameter buttons and is designed to be worn buttoned.

Techniques Used

The Lilith Cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up approach, meaning the garment is knitted starting from the lower edge and working upward toward the shoulders. The pattern employs seamed construction, with pieces knitted separately and then joined together. The cardigan is worked flat on straight needles and a circular needle, rather than in the round, allowing for traditional row-by-row shaping and finishing.

The design incorporates raglan armhole shaping, a classic technique where diagonal decreases are worked from the underarm toward the neckline, creating sloped shoulder seams. V-neck shaping is worked simultaneously with the raglan decreases, requiring careful attention to multiple shaping sequences on the same rows. The pattern uses bind-off techniques at the underarm to establish the armhole depth before beginning the raglan decreases.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch throughout the body of the cardigan, created by knitting all right-side rows and purling all wrong-side rows to produce a smooth, classic fabric.
• K1, P1 Rib: A textured ribbed stitch used for the lower edge cuff, worked over 8 rows. This rib alternates single knit stitches with single purl stitches to create vertical columns that provide elasticity and structure to the hem.
• Decrease stitches: The pattern uses ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit 2 together) decreases to shape the raglan armholes and neckline.

Materials

The Lilith Cardigan is knitted using Sesia BATIK yarn, a lightweight cotton-blend fiber composed of 98% cotton and 20% polyester. The yardage requirements range from 11 balls for the smallest size to 18 balls for the largest size. Each ball contains 50 grams of yarn and provides 85 meters (93 yards) of yardage. The sample shown is worked in color #960 turquoise.

The pattern calls for US size 7 (4.5mm) needles in two configurations: one pair of straight needles for working flat and one 40-inch (100 cm) circular needle. Additional materials include stitch holders for holding stitches during construction, five locking stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming pieces together.

Gauge is an essential element of this pattern, with the recommended tension being 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch. Knitters should take time to check their gauge before beginning to ensure proper finished measurements.