Snuggle Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Snuggle Cardigan in Cascade Yarns Cascade® Merino

What is Being Made

The Snuggle Cardigan is a knitted cardigan sweater designed for a relaxed, comfortable fit. This garment is available in five sizes ranging from Small to XX-Large, with finished bust measurements of 37 inches (Small) through 49¾ inches (XX-Large). The design features a slightly relaxed fit, with sizing recommendations suggesting you choose a finished size approximately 4 inches larger than your actual bust measurement for optimal comfort and wearability.

Techniques and Construction

This advanced-level knitting project employs several key techniques to create a polished, finished cardigan. The garment features a distinctive foldover collar constructed using a turning stitch method, created by slipping stitches purlwise with yarn in front to achieve neat, professional edges. The cardigan is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional seaming and finishing. The construction includes strategic increases worked into ribbed sections to shape the garment and establish proper proportions across the body.

Stitches Used

The Snuggle Cardigan incorporates two primary stitch patterns:

• 1/1 Ribbing: A classic knit-purl alternating pattern worked over a multiple of 2 plus 1 stitch, creating vertical columns of texture. This ribbing provides structure, elasticity, and a refined finish, particularly in the collar and cuff areas.
• Double Eyelet Stitch: A decorative lace pattern worked over a multiple of 8 stitches that creates openwork details. This stitch combines knit and purl rows with yarn overs and decreases (knit 2 together and slip-slip-knit) to form eyelet holes, adding visual interest and a delicate texture to the main body of the cardigan.

Additional stitch techniques include yarn overs (YO) for creating eyelets, knit 2 together (K2tog) and slip-slip-knit (ssk) decreases for shaping, and slip-slip-purl (ssp) decreases for maintaining pattern consistency on wrong-side rows.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Snuggle Cardigan is designed to be worked in Cascade Yarns® Cascade 220® Merino, a premium yarn composed of 100% Merino Wool. Each skein provides 220 yards (200 meters) of yardage and weighs 100 grams (3.5 ounces). The pattern calls for 7 to 9 skeins depending on size selection, with the sample shown in color #45 (Icelandic Blue).

The project requires US 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles or the size necessary to achieve the specified gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch. Additional materials include removeable stitch markers for tracking pattern sections, stitch holders or waste yarn for holding stitches during construction, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming pieces together.

Difficulty Level

This cardigan is classified as an advanced knitting project, designed by Cheryl Murray. The advanced skill level reflects the combination of techniques required, including working with stitch patterns, managing multiple stitch markers for different sections, executing decreases and yarn overs for lace work, and the overall garment construction process.