SweetGeorgia Shelburne Cardigan Knitting Pattern

SweetGeorgia Shelburne Cardigan: Pattern Summary

What Is Being Made

The SweetGeorgia Shelburne is a relaxed, open cardigan designed by Fatimah Hinds. This two-colour cardigan combines style with visual interest through slipped stitch textures that showcase rich colour combinations. The garment is intended to be worn with 2–4 inches of positive ease, making it a comfortable, slightly loose-fitting piece suitable for layering.

Construction Method

The Shelburne features one-piece seamless construction worked from the bottom up. This approach eliminates the need for seaming while maintaining structural integrity and ease of construction. The seamless, bottom-up method allows knitters to try on the piece as they work and adjust length as needed, while the one-piece construction keeps the project manageable and straightforward despite its visual complexity.

Techniques Used

• Slipped stitch textures: The primary decorative technique, creating visual depth and showcasing the contrast between the main colour (Birch) and contrasting colour (Songbird)
• Two-colour stripes: Colour work is integrated throughout the design to create pattern interest
• Seamless construction: Worked in the round using circular needles to eliminate seaming
• Bottom-up shaping: The garment is constructed from the hem upward, allowing for easy length adjustments

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Shelburne employs several fundamental knitting stitches combined into cohesive stitch patterns:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The base stitch used for smooth fabric sections
• Linen stitch in the round: A textured stitch pattern worked in multiples of 2 stitches plus 1, created by alternating knit stitches with slipped stitches (sl 1 wyif—slip 1 with yarn in front). This stitch creates a distinctive woven appearance and is central to the pattern's visual appeal
• Decreases: Both right-slanting (k2tog) and left-slanting (ssk—slip, slip, knit) decreases are used for shaping
• Basic knit and purl stitches: Form the foundation of all stitch patterns

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Shelburne is designed for SweetGeorgia Yarns Superwash DK weight yarn (100% Superwash Merino, 256 yards per 4 oz / 115 g skein). The pattern calls for 5–10 skeins total depending on size, split between two colours: Birch (main colour, 3–6 skeins) and Songbird (contrasting colour, 2–4 skeins). Sizes range from 30 inches to 58 inches bust circumference.

Needles and Notions: The pattern requires a size 8 US (5 mm) circular needle approximately 48 inches long for the main construction, a size 5 US (3.75 mm) set of five double-pointed needles (dpns) for ribbing and finishing, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends. Stitch markers are also needed to track pattern repeats and shaping points.

Gauge and Finished Measurements

Achieving correct gauge is essential for proper fit. The pattern specifies 18 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in slipped stitch pattern on size 8 (5 mm) needles after blocking, and 20 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the same needle size after blocking. Finished bust measurements range from 30 inches (for the smallest size) to 58 inches (for the largest size), with the cardigan designed to be worn with 2–4 inches of positive ease for a relaxed fit.

Skill Level

The Shelburne is rated at an Intermediate skill level, making it accessible to knitters with foundational knowledge of circular needle work, basic shaping techniques, and colour work integration.