Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Dakota Colorblock Jacket Knitting

Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Dakota Colorblock Jacket

Project Overview

The Dakota Colorblock Jacket is a knitted cardigan designed by Irina Poludnenko, featuring a striking colorblock construction that combines multiple yarn weights and textures. This garment is worked flat from the bottom up, making it an accessible project for knitters who prefer working on straight needles or circular needles in rows rather than in the round.

What Is Being Made

This is a fitted cardigan jacket available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 34 inches (86.5 cm) to 58 inches (147.5 cm). The jacket features a classic cardigan construction with front button bands, set-in armholes, and a tailored silhouette. Length ranges from 26 inches (66 cm) in the smallest size to 28.5 inches (72.5 cm) in the largest size, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions.

Construction Techniques

Bottom-Up Construction: The Dakota Colorblock Jacket is worked from the bottom up, meaning you begin by casting on stitches at the lower edge and work upward toward the shoulders and neckline. This method allows knitters to try on the garment as it progresses and easily adjust length if needed.

Worked Flat: Rather than working in the round, this cardigan is constructed flat on a circular needle, with pieces worked back and forth in rows. This flat construction is typical for cardigans with front openings and allows for straightforward shaping of the front edges and button bands.

Colorblock Design: The pattern incorporates a sophisticated colorblock technique using three distinct yarns held in various combinations. The colorblocking creates visual interest and texture variation throughout the garment, with different sections featuring different yarn combinations to achieve the intended color and texture effects.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

Primary Stitch: Stockinette stitch forms the foundation of this garment. Stockinette stitch is created by knitting all stitches on the right side rows and purling all stitches on the wrong side rows, producing a smooth, classic fabric with a distinctive V-pattern texture on the knit side.

Decreasing Techniques: The pattern employs standard knitting decreases to shape the garment:

• K2tog (Knit 2 Together): A right-leaning decrease made by knitting two stitches together through the front loops, reducing the stitch count by one.
• Ssk (Slip, Slip, Knit): A left-leaning decrease created by slipping two stitches individually knitwise to the right needle, returning them to the left needle in turned position, then knitting them together through the back loops. This decrease is used for balanced shaping.
• Ssp (Slip, Slip, Purl): The purl equivalent of ssk, used when decreasing on wrong side rows.

These decreases are strategically placed to create fitted armholes and neck shaping. The pattern includes specific decrease sequences, such as binding off multiple stitches at armhole edges followed by single-stitch decreases worked at regular intervals to create a smooth, professional armhole curve.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Primary Yarn - Stacy Charles Fine Yarns S LINE ASTRAKAN: This yarn comprises the main body of the jacket. ASTRAKAN is a luxurious blend containing 55% merino wool, 28% polyamide, 10% alpaca, and 7% acrylic. Each ball weighs 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and provides 87 yards (80 meters) of yardage. The pattern calls for 5 to 7 balls depending on size, in color #4928 titanium (A), which serves as the primary colorblock shade.

Secondary Colorblock Yarn - Stacy Charles Fine Yarns S LINE ASTRAKAN: A contrasting color in the same ASTRAKAN yarn is used for colorblock sections. Color #4921 sandstone (B) is used consistently across all sizes, requiring 2 balls. This secondary color creates visual definition in the colorblock pattern.

Accent Yarn - Stacy Charles Fine Yarns LUNA EFFECTS: This delicate yarn adds textural interest to the colorblock design. LUNA EFFECTS is composed of 70% super kid mohair and 30% silk, creating an exceptionally soft, lustrous yarn. Each ball weighs 0.88 ounces (25 grams) and yields 232