String Jennifer Cardigan Knitting Pattern

String Jennifer Cardigan: Knitted Striped Cardigan Pattern

What Is Being Made

The String Jennifer Cardigan is a sophisticated knitted cardigan designed by Lidia Karabinech, available in four sizes ranging from Small to Extra Large with finished bust measurements of 36 to 48 inches (91.5 to 122 cm). This garment features a classic cardigan silhouette with a length to shoulder of 26 inches (66 cm), making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and body types.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using several advanced knitting techniques that create both visual interest and structural integrity. The garment is knitted bottom-up, meaning construction begins at the lower edge and progresses upward toward the shoulders, allowing for easier fitting adjustments during the knitting process. The cardigan is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, with individual pieces created separately and later seamed together for a polished, tailored finish.

The design incorporates German short rows for shoulder shaping, a sophisticated technique that creates smooth, gradual shoulder curves without visible steps or gaps. This method involves strategic yarn-overs and decreases that distribute shaping evenly across multiple rows. All edges of the cardigan are finished with I-cord, a decorative and durable edging technique that creates a neat, professional border around the garment opening and edges.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern throughout the Jennifer Cardigan is Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st), which is worked by purling on right-side rows and knitting on wrong-side rows. This creates the characteristic bumpy texture on the public-facing side of the fabric, offering visual depth and a sophisticated appearance that complements the striped color work. The gauge for this pattern is 16 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) in Reverse Stockinette Stitch, which is essential information for achieving the correct finished measurements.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Jennifer Cardigan is designed to be knitted with String CHANTILLY yarn, a luxurious blend composed of 30% cashmere and 70% lambswool. This fiber combination provides exceptional softness, warmth, and a subtle sheen while maintaining excellent durability. Each ball contains 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and yields 136 yards (125 meters) of yarn.

The pattern calls for four coordinating colors of String CHANTILLY yarn:

• Color 514953 (Oatmeal/A): 2 (2, 3, 3) balls depending on size
• Color 513197 (Silver/B): 2 (2, 3, 3) balls depending on size
• Color 513199 (Charcoal/C): 3 (3, 4, 4) balls depending on size
• Color 514956 (Salt & Pepper/D): 2 (2, 3, 3) balls depending on size

The striped color sequence progresses through these four yarns in a carefully planned rotation, creating a sophisticated multi-color design that unfolds as the cardigan is knitted from bottom to top.

Needles and Notions

Construction requires US 9 (5.5mm) straight needles as the primary needles for working the flat pieces, along with two US 9 (5.5mm) double-pointed needles (dpn) for creating the I-cord edgings. Additional supplies include five stitch holders for securing stitches during construction, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, waste yarn for the provisional cast-on, and a size G crochet hook for executing the provisional cast-on technique. A yarn needle is necessary for seaming the pieces together and weaving in ends, and optional hook and eye closures may be added for functional closure at the cardigan front.

Stripe Pattern Sequence

The cardigan features a carefully orchestrated stripe pattern that repeats throughout the body of the garment. The sequence begins with 8 rows of Yarn A (Oatmeal), followed by 4 rows of Yarn B (Silver), 4 rows of Yarn C (Charcoal), 10 rows of Yarn D (Salt & Pepper), and this multi-row stripe pattern continues with variations in row counts for each color, creating visual rhythm and movement