String Lafayette Cardigan Knitting Pattern

String Lafayette Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The String Lafayette Cardigan is a sophisticated, fitted cardigan designed by Lidia Karabinech. This garment is available in four sizes—Small through Extra Large—with finished bust measurements ranging from 37 inches (94 cm) to 49 inches (124.5 cm) and a length of 25½ inches (65 cm). The cardigan features a classic construction with front button closures and tailored shaping at the neck and shoulders, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for both casual and professional settings.

Knitting Techniques

The Lafayette Cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed, and worked-flat approach. This method involves knitting the front and back panels separately from the cast-on edge upward, then joining them together using seams. The garment incorporates short rows as a key shaping technique, specifically using the wrap-and-turn (w&t) method to create smooth, contoured shaping at the neckline and shoulders without the need for decreases that might create visible lines. The three-needle bind-off technique is employed to join shoulder seams, creating a strong, finished edge where two pieces meet.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern throughout the Lafayette Cardigan is Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev St st), which creates a smooth, refined fabric with a subtle texture. Reverse Stockinette is worked by purling on right-side rows and knitting on wrong-side rows, producing a fabric with horizontal bumps on the public-facing side. The pattern also employs M1L (Make 1 Left) increases, which are worked by lifting the strand between needles from front to back and working through the back loop to prevent holes in the fabric. These increases are used strategically for shaping.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Lafayette Cardigan is designed to be knitted with STRING AMALFI yarn, a luxurious blend containing 14% cashmere, 25% lambswool, 22% silk, and 39% viscose. This fiber composition creates a fabric with exceptional softness, warmth, and drape. The yarn is supplied in balls of 1.75 ounces (50 grams) with 180 yards (165 meters) per ball. Yardage requirements vary by size: Small requires 7 balls, Medium requires 8 balls, Large requires 9 balls, and Extra Large requires 10 balls. The color specified is 728332 sand, a neutral tone suitable for versatile styling.

Needles and Gauge

The Lafayette Cardigan is worked on size 5 (3.75mm) needles, though the pattern notes that knitters should select the needle size necessary to obtain the correct gauge. The required gauge is 19½ stitches and 28½ rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Reverse Stockinette Stitch after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements, and the pattern emphasizes the importance of checking gauge before beginning the project. Blocking the finished garment helps even out the fabric and ensures accurate dimensions.

Construction Details

The Left Front panel is cast on with 50 (55, 60, 65) stitches depending on size and worked in Reverse Stockinette Stitch until the piece measures 22 inches (56 cm), ending on a wrong-side row. Neck shaping is then introduced using short rows, with wraps picked up and knitted together with their wrapped stitches to maintain fabric integrity. Shoulder shaping follows a similar short-row technique, creating a gradual slope that provides a professional fit. Additional materials required include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, stitch holders for temporarily securing stitches during construction, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming pieces together.