Shibui Knits Mix No. 16 Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Shibui Knits Mix No. 16 Cardigan

What Is Being Made

Shibui Knits Mix No. 16 is a seamless cardigan designed by Kristin Ford, featured in the S/S 2013 collection. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a sophisticated button-front cardigan with striped patterning and a refined construction method. The cardigan is available in four sizes ranging from XS to XL, with finished bust circumferences of 36.5, 41.5, 46.25, and 51.25 inches, and lengths from shoulder measuring 23 to 26 inches depending on size.

Construction Techniques

This cardigan employs a thoughtful combination of knitting techniques to achieve its finished structure. The garment is worked flat for the back and front pieces, which are initially begun as three separate pieces. These pieces are then joined together and worked in one piece up to the armholes, creating a seamless body. After the armholes are established, the front and back are worked separately again to the shoulders. The sleeves are picked up around the armholes and worked in the round down to the cuffs, eliminating the need for seaming at the sleeve cap.

The cardigan features striped patterning created through the use of charted patterns. Chart 1 is worked across 16 rows in the bottom band section, establishing the color work foundation for the design. The construction method allows for a bottom-up approach, where knitting begins at the lower edge and progresses upward toward the shoulders and neckline.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with shaping techniques. Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric base. The bottom band incorporates charted stitch patterns worked over 16 rows. Decreasing is accomplished through k2tog (knit two together) decreases strategically placed to shape the garment. The pattern includes a one-row buttonhole technique, which is worked using a slip stitch method: yarn is brought to the front of work, stitches are slipped and passed over one another to create the buttonhole opening, then new stitches are cast on using the cable method to close the opening.

Edge stitches are maintained with knit and purl stitches (k1, p1) at garment edges to create finished selvages. The pattern employs both knit (k) and purl (p) stitches in combination to shape the garment and create texture variations.

Yarn and Materials

This cardigan is designed to be knitted with two distinct yarns held together as a single strand, creating a blended fabric. Shibui Cima is a luxury yarn composed of 70% superbaby alpaca and 30% fine merino, offering softness and breathability. Cima is required in 4, 4, 5, or 6 skeins of Color A and 1, 2, 2, or 2 skeins of Color B depending on size, with 328 yards per 50-gram skein.

Shibui Silk Cloud is a delicate yarn made from 60% kid mohair and 40% silk, providing a luxurious halo and drape. Silk Cloud is required in 3, 3, 4, or 4 skeins of Color A and 1, 2, 2, or 2 skeins of Color B depending on size, with 330 yards per 25-gram skein. The pattern specifies the colorway shown as Camel (Color A) and Caffeine (Color B).

Needles required include smaller and larger circular needles. The gauge is 32 stitches and 48 rows over 4 inches in charted patterns with Cima on smaller needles after blocking, and 26 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch with the blended Cima and Silk Cloud held together on larger needles after blocking. Nine 9/16-inch buttons are needed to complete the cardigan front closure, along with needle and thread for attachment.