String Kate Jacket Cardigan Knitting Pattern

String Kate Jacket

What is Being Made

The String Kate Jacket is a sophisticated knitted cardigan designed by Lidia Karabinech, featuring a modern silhouette with a 20" zipper closure. This garment is available in four sizes: Small (bust 39½"), Medium (bust 43¼"), Large (bust 47"), and Extra Large (bust 51"), with a consistent length to shoulder of 22½". The jacket combines classic knitting construction with contemporary cable detailing, making it suitable for both casual and refined wardrobes.

Techniques Used

The Kate Jacket is constructed using several foundational knitting techniques that create a polished, professional finish. The garment is worked flat, meaning it is knitted on straight needles in individual pieces rather than in the round, allowing for precise shaping and seaming. The jacket is seamed, with individual components joined together after completion to create clean, structured edges. The construction method is bottom-up, beginning at the lower edge of the body and working upward toward the shoulders, which provides excellent control over fit and allows for easy adjustments during the knitting process.

Stitches Used

The Kate Jacket employs three primary stitch patterns to achieve its distinctive aesthetic. Stockinette stitch (alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side) forms the foundational fabric, creating a smooth, classic surface. 1x1 Ribbing (alternating single knit and purl stitches) is incorporated for structure and elasticity, particularly in areas requiring fitted edges such as cuffs and necklines. The signature design element is the Cable Pattern, which features multiple cable crosses including 1/2 Right Cross (1/2 RC), 1/2 Left Cross (1/2 LC), 1/1 Right Cross (1/1 RC), 1/1 Left Cross (1/1 LC), 1/3 Right Cross (1/3 RC), and 1/3 Left Cross (1/3 LC) stitches. These cable crosses create dimensional, twisted vertical lines throughout the fabric on a 12-row repeat pattern, with a 16-stitch multiple that allows for consistent patterning across the garment width.

Materials

The Kate Jacket requires String DOLCETTO yarn, a luxurious blend composed of 30% cashmere and 70% merino wool. This fiber combination provides exceptional softness, breathability, and temperature regulation. The yarn is supplied in balls of 1.75 ounces (50 grams) with 136 yards (125 meters) per ball. Yardage requirements vary by size: Size Small requires 9 balls, Size Medium requires 9 balls, Size Large requires 11 balls, and Size Extra Large requires 12 balls. The sample shown in the pattern was knitted in color #200925 plum.

Needles required include US 8 (5mm) needles and US 9 (5.5mm) needles, with the larger size used to achieve the specified gauge. Additional notions include stitch holders for securing stitches during construction, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming pieces together, and a 20" zipper for the front closure.

Gauge and Construction Details

The pattern specifies a gauge of 17 stitches and 20 rows equaling 4 inches (10 centimeters) when working the Cable Pattern with the larger US 9 (5.5mm) needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the intended finished measurements and proper drape of the cashmere-merino blend fabric. The cable pattern operates on a 12-row repeat with variations provided for different sizes to accommodate the various bust measurements, ensuring that the cable motifs align properly across the width of each size.