Swans Island Waterfall Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Swans Island Waterfall Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Waterfall Cardigan is an intermediate women's cardigan pattern designed by Laura Chaute. This garment is available in six sizes ranging from extra-small to extra-large (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL), with finished bust measurements from 32½ inches to 52½ inches and lengths varying from 26¼ to 29 inches depending on size. The cardigan features a distinctive design with overlapping fronts that fully overlap at the neck and bust before curving away to the sides, creating an elegant layered effect. The back of the garment flares out gently from the waistline, adding graceful movement and shape to the design.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using three primary knitting techniques that create a seamless, professional finish. The garment is worked from the top down, a method that allows knitters to try on the piece as it develops and easily adjust the length. The fronts are worked flat on circular needles, which provides stability and control while shaping the overlapping front panels. The sleeves are worked in the round using double-pointed needles or circular needles, creating a seamless finish without side seams. Additionally, the cardigan features integrated I-cord edging on the fronts and attached I-cord edging on the back, which adds a refined, finished appearance to the edges and helps them maintain their shape.

Stitches Used

The Waterfall Cardigan employs fundamental knitting stitches executed with precision. The primary stitch throughout most of the garment is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a neat V-pattern appearance on the right side. The ribbed sections use 1x1 ribbing, which alternates single knit and purl stitches in both flat and circular variations. The 1x1 rib appears on the long ribbed sleeves and likely on cuffs and edgings, providing elasticity and a refined finish. The pattern also incorporates standard shaping techniques including increases (using make-one left and make-one right methods) and decreases (using knit-two-together and slip-slip-knit techniques) to create the cardigan's gentle flare and proper fit.

Materials

The Waterfall Cardigan is crafted using Swans Island Natural Colors yarn, a premium 100% organic merino wool in fingering weight. Each skein contains 100 grams and yields approximately 525 yards, with the pattern requiring 4 to 6 skeins depending on the size selected (4 skeins for XS and S, 5 skeins for M and L, and 6 skeins for XL and XXL). The yarn shown in the pattern sample is Wheat (YF151), a neutral natural color. Knitters will need US size 2.5 (3mm) circular needles in both 16-inch and 32-inch lengths, or longer if preferred, along with double-pointed needles of the same size for working the sleeves in the round. Additional supplies include stitch markers, waste yarn for provisional cast-ons, and a yarn needle for finishing. The recommended gauge is 7 stitches and 10 rows per inch in stockinette stitch, or 12¼ stitches and 10¾ rounds per inch in 1x1 ribbing.