String Watts Cardigan Knitting Pattern

String Watts Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Watts Cardigan is a luxurious knitted cardigan designed by Sandi Rosner, available in five sizes ranging from Small to Extra Large. This garment features a sophisticated colorblock design combining two complementary colors in a structured, tailored silhouette. The finished bust measurements span from 32½ inches (Small) to 47½ inches (Extra Large), with length options ranging from 26¼ to 28¾ inches, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various body types and style preferences.

Knitting Techniques

The Watts Cardigan employs several advanced knitting techniques to achieve its refined construction. The garment is worked flat on straight needles, meaning it is knitted in flat rows rather than in the round, allowing for easier colorwork management and seaming. The cardigan is constructed bottom-up, beginning at the lower edge and working upward toward the shoulders and neckline. The design incorporates intarsia colorwork, a technique where different colored yarns are used to create distinct color blocks within the fabric. This method involves managing multiple yarn colors across rows, requiring careful attention to color changes and yarn management to prevent tangling. The finished pieces are seamed together, meaning the front panels, back panel, and sleeves are knitted separately and then joined using a yarn needle, creating clean, professional seams that contribute to the cardigan's polished appearance.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the Watts Cardigan is stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side and bumpy texture on the wrong side. Within the stockinette base, the design features a colorblock pattern created through intarsia technique, where color A and color B are worked in distinct sections across the width of the garment. The pattern specifies precise stitch counts for each color section: color A appears in 15 (18, 22, 26, 30) stitches on the left front, color B spans 61 (65, 69, 71, 73) center stitches, and color A returns for 15 (18, 22, 26, 30) stitches on the right front. Shaping is accomplished through M1L (Make 1 Left) and M1R (Make 1 Right) increases, which create new stitches by lifting the strand between needles and working it through the back loop to prevent holes. These increases are worked strategically at the armholes, with the pattern indicating increases every 4 rows repeated 13 to 17 times depending on size, building from the initial cast-on to a maximum of 169 stitches in the Extra Large size. The k2tog (knit 2 together) decrease is also referenced for shaping purposes.

Materials and Gauge

The Watts Cardigan is crafted using STRING BLOSSOM yarn, a luxury blend composed of 50% cashmere and 50% silk, offering exceptional softness, drape, and breathability. Each ball contains 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and provides 177 yards (162.5 meters) of yardage. The pattern requires 3 to 5 balls of color 200737 Almond (color A) and 3 to 4 balls of color 100002 Pearl (color B), depending on the chosen size. Knitting is performed on size 5 (3.75mm) needles for the main fabric and size 3 (3.25mm) needles for ribbed edgings, with a size 5 (3.75mm) circular needle measuring 32 inches (80 cm) used for the neckband. The required gauge is 22½ stitches and 31 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch using the larger needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential before beginning the project, as it directly impacts the finished measurements and fit of the cardigan. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, removable stitch markers for marking reference points such as front loops at the armhole level, and a yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends.