Swing Front Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Swing Front Cardigan in Noro Kumo

What is Being Made

The Swing Front Cardigan is a women's cardigan sweater featuring a distinctive swing front design. This garment is sized for Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large, with finished bust measurements ranging from 42 to 49 inches (106.5 to 124.5 centimeters). The cardigan offers varied length options at the back (28 to 30 inches / 71 to 76 centimeters) and front (23 to 25 inches / 58.5 to 63.5 centimeters), creating an elegant, asymmetrical silhouette. Upper arm circumference ranges from 18 to 21 inches (45.5 to 53 centimeters).

Craft and Difficulty Level

This is an intermediate-level knitting project, suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex construction techniques. The pattern requires understanding of shaping, increases, decreases, and garment assembly.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Increases: The pattern employs multiple increase methods, including knitting into the front and back of stitches to add stitches within a row, as well as make one increases (abbreviated as M1) worked from the strand between stitches on the needle.
• Make One Variations: Both knit-based make one increases and purl-based make one purl stitch increases are utilized to shape the garment seamlessly.
• Decreases: Slip, slip, knit (SSK) and slip, slip, purl (SSP) decreases are used to shape the cardigan and create structured edges.
• Chart Reading: The pattern incorporates stitch charts with "no stitch" spaces indicated by shaded areas, requiring knitters to skip over these spaces as stitches are decreased or not yet made.
• Stitch Markers: The pattern uses placed markers to track pattern repeats and shaping points throughout the knitting process.
• Selvage Stitches: Edge stitches are incorporated to facilitate easier seaming during garment assembly.
• Pick Up and Knit: This technique is used to add stitches along finished edges for bands, borders, or additional construction elements.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (worked knitwise)
• Purl stitch (worked purlwise)
• Make one (M1) increases
• Make one purl stitch increases
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK) decreases
• Slip, slip, purl (SSP) decreases
• Slip stitches
• Selvage stitches for seaming edges

Materials and Tools

The Swing Front Cardigan is designed to be knitted with Noro Kumo yarn in colorway #21. Yardage requirements vary by size: Small and Medium require 5 hanks of 100-gram weight yarn, while Large and X-Large require 6 hanks. This yarn choice provides beautiful color variation and texture to the finished garment.

Needles required include one pair of US size 3 (3.25mm) needles, or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge for the pattern. Additionally, 8 clip-on stitch markers are needed to track increases, decreases, and pattern sections throughout the knitting process. Proper gauge is emphasized as essential for achieving the intended finished measurements and fit of the cardigan.

Pattern Format

This Swing Front Cardigan pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it convenient for digital access and printing. The pattern includes detailed schematic measurements, comprehensive stitch glossary definitions, and chart-based instructions to guide knitters through construction of this intermediate-level garment.