String Varick Ombre Cardigan Knitting Pattern

String Varick Ombré Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Varick Ombré Cardigan is a sophisticated knitted cardigan designed by Lidia Karabinech, available in four sizes ranging from Small to Extra Large. This garment features a striking ombré color progression that transitions from one shade to another throughout the piece. The cardigan is designed with a fitted silhouette, offering a bust measurement of 37½ inches in the smallest size up to 49½ inches in the largest size, with a finished length of 25½ inches. The design includes a 1¼-inch front overlap, creating a classic cardigan closure.

Techniques Used

The Varick Ombré Cardigan is constructed using fundamental knitting techniques that create a polished, wearable garment. The cardigan is worked flat on straight needles, meaning it is knitted in flat rows rather than in the round. The construction method is bottom-up, beginning with the back piece and working upward toward the shoulders and neckline. The individual pieces—back, left front, and right front—are seamed together after completion, which allows for precise shaping and professional finishing. This seamed construction method provides structure and ensures clean edges where pieces join.

The ombré effect is achieved through a strategic color transition worked into the piece as it grows. The cardigan begins with two strands of the first color held together, transitions to one strand each of two different colors held together, and concludes with two strands of the second color held together. This technique creates a gradual, visually appealing gradient from one shade to another.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout the Varick Ombré Cardigan is Stockinette Stitch (St st), which creates the smooth, classic fabric that forms the body of the garment. Stockinette stitch is created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing the characteristic V-pattern texture on the front of the fabric.

Shaping and finishing techniques incorporate several essential decreasing and increasing methods:

• Kfb (knit front and back) is used for increases, creating new stitches by knitting into both the front and back of a single stitch
• K2tog (knit 2 together) decreases stitches by working two stitches together as one
• Ssk (slip, slip, knit) provides a left-leaning decrease by slipping two stitches individually, then knitting them together through the back loops
• Ssp (slip, slip, purl) offers a left-leaning decrease on purl rows using the same principle

The cardigan also incorporates Kitchener Stitch, also known as grafting, which is an advanced finishing technique used to join two sets of live stitches together invisibly. This technique creates seamless joins and is particularly useful for shoulder seams or other areas where a smooth connection is desired.

Additional stitch pattern elements include a ribbed edging worked in a [p1, k1] alternating pattern on the front bands, creating a textured, elastic trim that frames the cardigan opening.

Materials

The Varick Ombré Cardigan is knitted using STRING AMALFI, a luxurious blended yarn that combines 14% cashmere, 25% lambswool, 22% silk, and 39% viscose. This sophisticated fiber blend creates a fabric with exceptional softness, drape, and subtle sheen. The yarn is available in two distinct colors for this project: color 515751 (A) and color 728331 (B), which work together to create the ombré effect.

The yardage requirements are 5 balls of each color for sizes Small and Medium, 6 balls of each color for size Large, and 7 balls of each color for size Extra Large. Each ball contains 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and provides 180 yards (165 meters) of yarn. The pattern is worked with yarn held in multiple strands throughout: two strands held together for the initial and final color sections, and one strand each of both colors held together for the middle transition section.

Construction requires size 11 (8mm) needles, or the size necessary to achieve the specified gauge. The gauge for this project is 12 stitches and 17 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Stockinette Stitch when working with two strands of yarn held together. Additional notions include stitch holders for securing