Swans Island Portland Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Swans Island Portland Cardigan Pattern Summary

What Is Being Made

The Portland Cardigan is an easy women's cardigan pattern designed by Carrie Bostick Hoge. This garment is available in ten sizes ranging from 2XS to 4XL, with finished bust measurements from 29¾ inches up to 54½ inches. The cardigan features a center front opening with 1¼ to 3¼ inches of overlap depending on size, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various body types and styling preferences.

Construction Techniques

The Portland Cardigan is constructed using a seamless, top-down, worked-in-the-round approach. This modern knitting method begins at the neckline and progresses downward toward the hem, eliminating the need for seaming pieces together after completion. The use of circular needles accommodates the large number of stitches required for the body, even though the cardigan is worked back and forth rather than continuously in the round. After the body is complete, the band is picked up and worked separately. Inset pockets are added when the bottom band is being worked, providing functional detail to the finished garment.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs two primary stitch patterns:

• Stockinette Stitch (Stst): Forms the main fabric of the cardigan body. This stitch is created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, producing a smooth, classic knit fabric with characteristic V-shaped columns on the front.
• 2x2 Rib: Used for the bands and cuffs. This stitch alternates two knit stitches with two purl stitches in a repeating pattern, creating an elastic, textured band that provides structure and recovery at the edges of the garment.

Materials and Gauge

The Portland Cardigan is designed to be knitted with Swans Island Natural Colors Collections yarn in Pure Blends, which is composed of 85% organic Merino wool and 15% alpaca in worsted weight. Each skein provides 130 yards and weighs 100 grams. The main color shown is Oatmeal (YW210), requiring 3 to 6 skeins depending on size, while the contrast color is Seamoke (YW221), requiring 1 to 2 skeins. Knitting is worked on US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32-inch lengths, along with straight needles, or whatever needle size is necessary to achieve the correct gauge.

The pattern specifies a gauge of 5 stitches and 6¾ rows per 1 inch in stockinette stitch. Achieving this gauge is essential for obtaining the intended fit, as variations will directly affect the finished bust measurement and overall proportions of the cardigan.

Additional Materials

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires stitch markers to denote pattern repeats and shaping points, stitch holders to temporarily secure stitches during construction, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and any finishing details.