Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Stacey Hi-Lo Cardigan Knitting

Stacey Hi-Lo Cardigan by Irina Poludnenko

What Is Being Made

The Stacey Hi-Lo Cardigan is a knitted cardigan designed with a hi-lo hemline, featuring a lace pattern throughout. This garment is worked flat on circular needles and is available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X, with bust measurements from 37½ inches (95.5 cm) to 57½ inches (146 cm). The back length measures 22¼ inches (56.5 cm), making this a versatile layering piece suitable for various body types and proportions.

Techniques Used

This cardigan employs lace knitting as its primary decorative technique, combined with flat knitting construction. The garment is worked flat rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward seaming and finishing. The lace pattern is organized into vertical repeats, with each repeat measuring 2 inches in length, giving knitters the flexibility to customize sleeve length by adding or eliminating pattern repeats as needed before beginning sleeve shaping. The cardigan features garter stitch edge stitches on both sides to frame the lace pattern and provide structural stability. Sleeve shaping is accomplished through strategic increases worked at regular intervals, with the frequency of increases varying by size to achieve proper fit across the size range.

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates several fundamental knitting stitches and techniques:

• Leaf Lace – the primary stitch pattern that creates the decorative openwork throughout the cardigan
• Garter Stitch – used for edge stitches (3 stitches on each side) to frame the lace and provide a finished appearance
• K2tog (Knit 2 Together) – a decrease stitch worked through the front loops to shape the garment
• M1 (Make 1) – an increase stitch created by lifting the strand between needles and working it through the back loop to prevent holes, used for sleeve shaping
• Ssk (Slip, Slip, Knit) – an alternative decrease technique for shaping
• Cable Cast-On – the special cast-on technique used to begin the cardigan, creating a sturdy, finished edge

Materials

The Stacey Hi-Lo Cardigan is knitted with NINA yarn from Stacy Charles Fine Yarns, a linen and cotton blend composed of 77% linen and 23% cotton. The yarn is supplied in balls of 1.75 ounces (50 grams) with 136 yards (125 meters) per ball. The sample shown uses color #01 smoke. Yardage requirements range from 7 balls for smaller sizes (Small and Medium) to 9 balls for larger sizes (2X and 3X). The pattern calls for one size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle measuring 32 inches (80 cm) in length, or the size necessary to obtain proper gauge. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and finishing the garment.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 17 stitches and 23 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Lace Pattern. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly given the range of sizes and the importance of the lace pattern's vertical repeats in determining sleeve length customization.