Swans Island Andover Cardigan Coat Knitting Pattern

Swans Island Andover Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Andover Cardigan is a classic shawl-collared cardigan designed for infants and young children, available in sizes ranging from 3 months to 6 years. This unisex style combines New England prep school aesthetics with timeless appeal, featuring a finished chest circumference from 18 inches (3 months size) to 28¼ inches (6 years size). The cardigan is constructed with a button front closure, using four ½" buttons, and is worked in a traditional seamed construction method.

Techniques Used

The Andover Cardigan employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques to create visual interest and structure:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The garment is knitted from the bottom edge upward, allowing for easy length adjustments and intuitive shaping
• Intarsia Colorwork: This method uses separate yarn strands for distinct blocks of color, with careful yarn wrapping at color changes to prevent gaps. Intarsia allows for bold, defined color blocks without the bulk of traditional stranded colorwork
• Stripes: The pattern incorporates striped sections, which can be worked in coordinating or contrasting colors for visual depth
• Worked Flat: The cardigan is constructed on straight needles in flat pieces rather than in the round, making it accessible for knitters who prefer traditional flat knitting methods
• Seamed Construction: Individual pieces are joined together using seaming techniques, creating clean, professional edges and allowing for precise garment shaping

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for creating a smooth, classic garment:

• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch throughout the cardigan, creating a smooth, flat fabric with characteristic V-shaped columns on the right side
• Knit and Purl Stitches: Basic building blocks used in combination to create texture and structure
• Yarn Overs (yo): Used for decorative or functional increases
• Decreases (k2tog, ssk): Techniques including knit two stitches together and slip, slip, knit used for shaping the armholes, neckline, and other fitted areas
• Kitchener Stitch: An invisible grafting technique used to join live stitches, creating seamless transitions in certain areas of the garment

Materials

The Andover Cardigan is designed to be knitted with premium natural fibers in worsted weight yarn:

• Main Color (MC): Swans Island Natural Colors yarn in 85% Organic Merino Wool and 15% Alpaca blend, worsted weight. The sample shown uses color YW221 Seasmoke, with quantities ranging from 1 to 3 skeins depending on size (each skein contains 100 grams and 250 yards)
• Contrast Color (CC): Swans Island Natural Colors yarn in 100% Organic Merino Wool, worsted weight. The sample shown uses color YW202 Maize, requiring 1 skein (100 grams, 250 yards)
• Needles: US Size 8 (5 mm) straight needles, plus a third needle for joining plackets
• Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn for holding stitches, four ½" buttons, and a yarn needle for finishing

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 4¾ stitches by 6¾ rows per 1 inch when worked in Stockinette Stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished dimensions. The pattern is available in seven sizes: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2 years, 4 years, and 6 years, with the sample photograph showing the 12-month size.

Design Details

Designed by Michele Rose Orne, the Andover Cardigan (Pattern Item No. PAT 77) is rated as an intermediate-level project, suitable for knitters with experience in basic construction and colorwork techniques. The shawl collar provides classic styling, while the button front makes the cardigan practical for everyday wear. The combination of organic merino and