Shibui Knits Midtown Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Shibui Knits Midtown Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Midtown Cardigan is a modern, elemental cardigan designed by Shellie Anderson for Shibui Knits. This garment redefines simplicity through its clean construction and versatile design, making it an essential piece suitable for daily wear. The cardigan is available in seven sizes ranging from XS to XXL, with finished bust circumferences from 37.25 inches to 53.25 inches, accommodating various body types and fit preferences.

Techniques Used

The Midtown Cardigan employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the garment is knitted starting from the lower edge and progressing toward the shoulders. The body is worked flat in a single piece using circular needles, which allows for easier stitch management and consistent tension even though the fabric is not being worked in the round. This approach simplifies the construction process while maintaining structural integrity.

The cardigan features seamed construction, with sleeves set in and seamed to the body after being worked separately. This technique creates clean, finished edges and allows for precise sleeve placement. The garment incorporates several specialized finishing details:

• Folded Hem on the body and sleeves, which creates a professional, polished edge and adds subtle structure to the garment
• Slipped Stitch Rib pattern on the front edges and collar, providing a refined textural detail and helping the front opening maintain its shape
• 3-Needle Bind-Off technique for joining shoulder seams, which creates a strong, flexible seam ideal for knitwear

The construction sequence involves dividing the back and fronts at the armholes and working them separately to the shoulders, allowing for shaping that accommodates the natural contours of the body.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the Midtown Cardigan is Stockinette Stitch (St st), which creates the smooth, classic knit fabric that forms the main body of the garment. Stockinette Stitch is achieved by alternating knit stitches on right-side rows and purl stitches on wrong-side rows when working flat, producing the characteristic V-pattern texture on the finished fabric.

The pattern also incorporates Slipped Stitch Rib for the front edges and collar. This stitch pattern combines slipped stitches with ribbing to create a refined, textured edge that is both visually interesting and functionally superior for maintaining shape along the cardigan's opening.

Materials and Gauge

The Midtown Cardigan is designed to be worked with two distinct yarns held together throughout construction. The body and sleeves use one strand of Shibui Knits Maai and one strand of Shibui Knits Cima held together, creating a warm yet lightweight fabric with excellent drape and breathability. The Folded Hem sections use two strands of Cima held together, providing a slightly different texture and weight for the hemmed edges.

Shibui Knits Maai is composed of 70% Superbaby Alpaca and 30% Fine Merino, with 175 yards per 50-gram skein. The pattern requires 6 to 9 skeins depending on size.

Shibui Knits Cima is also composed of 70% Superbaby Alpaca and 30% Fine Merino, with 328 yards per 50-gram skein. The pattern requires 4 to 6 skeins depending on size.

The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch after blocking, achieved using Size 8 (5 mm) needles with the yarn combination held together. A Size 6 (4 mm) circular needle is used for the initial cast-on and ribbed sections. A Size H (5 mm) crochet hook is included in the tools list, likely for finishing techniques such as picking up stitches for the collar or securing edges.

The pattern is classified as Intermediate skill level, indicating that knitters should have experience with basic techniques and be comfortable following more complex shaping instructions. The model pictured is 5'7" wearing Size S with 4.75 inches of positive ease, providing a reference for how the finished garment fits.