Shibui Knits Siena Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Shibui Knits Siena Cardigan: Lightweight Minimalist Design

What Is Being Made

The Siena Cardigan is a lightweight, minimalist cardigan designed by Shellie Anderson for Shibui Knits. This garment features an iconic silhouette with distinctive dolman sleeves and airy construction, making it an ideal everyday sweater. The cardigan is available in seven sizes ranging from XS to XXL, with finished bust circumferences from 40 inches to 56 inches, accommodating a wide range of body types.

Knitting Techniques

Siena is constructed using a bottom-up, worked-flat approach, meaning the knitter begins at the lower edge and works upward, with pieces knitted on flat needles rather than in the round. The garment is seamed together after individual pieces are completed, creating clean, professional finishing. The dolman sleeves are formed by casting on stitches at the armhole, a technique that creates the characteristic flowing sleeve shape without traditional cap shaping. The front edging is picked up and worked in Stockinette Stitch, a common method for adding finished edges to cardigan fronts.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The primary stitch used throughout Siena is Stockinette Stitch, a fundamental knitting pattern that creates a smooth, flat fabric with a distinctive V-pattern on the right side. The pattern incorporates strategic decreases worked at regular intervals—every 6 rows for the initial shaping, then every 4 rows for additional shaping—to create the fitted silhouette. The cast-on method specified is the Double German Twisted Cast-On, a technique that produces a strong, elastic edge ideal for garment foundations. A 3-Needle Bind-Off is used for seaming, providing a durable and professional closure.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Siena is designed to be knitted with two strands held together throughout: one strand of Shibui Knits Lunar and one strand of Shibui Knits Reed. This two-strand construction creates the lightweight, airy fabric characteristic of the design.

• Shibui Knits Reed: 100% Linen, 246 yards per 50-gram skein. Yardage required varies by size: 4 skeins for XS, S, M, and M/L sizes; 5 skeins for L and XL sizes; and 6 skeins for XXL size.
• Shibui Knits Lunar: 60% Extra Fine Merino Wool, 40% Mulberry Silk, 401 yards per 50-gram skein. Yardage required varies by size: 3 skeins for XS through L sizes, and 4 skeins for XL and XXL sizes. The sample shown is in the Ash colorway.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires Size 10 (6 mm) needles for the main construction, which are used to achieve the specified gauge. A Size 8 (5 mm) circular needle measuring 32 inches is also needed, likely for any ribbing or edge work. Additional tools include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, stitch holders for managing live stitches, a spare Size 10 needle for the 3-Needle Bind-Off technique, and a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends.

Gauge and Fit Information

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch after blocking, achieved with one strand of Lunar and one strand of Reed held together on Size 10 needles. Accurate gauge is essential for proper fit. The finished garment is designed with approximately 7.5 inches of positive ease, meaning the finished bust measurement is larger than the intended wearer's actual bust size, creating a comfortable, relaxed fit suitable for layering. The back length from shoulder ranges from 24.75 inches for the smallest size to 26.5 inches for the largest size.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as Intermediate difficulty, indicating that knitters should be comfortable with fundamental techniques including Stockinette Stitch, decreases, picking up stitches, and seaming before attempting this project.