Tahki Yarns Bellflower Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Bellflower Knitted Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Bellflower is a knitted cardigan designed by Teresa Chorzepa. This garment is constructed from two identical panels that are worked flat and then seamed together to create the back and sides of the cardigan. The design features an open front with side slits, creating a modern, flowing silhouette. Available in three sizes—Small/Medium, Large/XL, and 2X/3X—with finished bust measurements of 54, 59, and 65 inches respectively, and lengths ranging from 26 to 28 inches depending on size.

Techniques Used

The Bellflower employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its design:

• Worked Flat: Both panels are knitted flat on circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for easy construction and modification of stitch patterns across rows.
• Lace Work: The cardigan features a lace stitch pattern created using yarn overs and knit-two-together decreases (yo, k2tog), which appear periodically throughout the body to create an open, decorative texture.
• Seamed Construction: After blocking, the two panels are sewn together at the center back and sides using a yarn needle, creating clean seams that define the garment's structure.
• Ribbed Edges: The cast-on and bind-off edges use a knit-purl rib pattern, providing elasticity and a finished appearance at the neckline and hem.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined to create texture and shaping:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch forming the main body of the cardigan, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic fabric.
• Knit-Purl Rib: Used at the edges and borders, this alternating knit and purl stitch creates vertical lines that provide stretch and recovery.
• Lace Decreases: Yarn overs (yo) paired with knit-two-together (k2tog) decreases form the lace pattern, creating decorative holes and openwork throughout the cardigan at regular intervals.
• Slip Stitch Edge: The first stitch of each row is slipped rather than knitted, creating a neat, finished selvage edge ideal for seaming.

Materials and Tools

The Bellflower is designed to be knitted with specific materials that contribute to its drape and wearability:

• Yarn: Tahki Yarns RIPPLE, a 100% cotton yarn available in color #005 blue. The yardage required varies by size: 6 balls for Small/Medium (852 yards total), 7 balls for Large/XL (994 yards total), and 8 balls for 2X/3X (1,136 yards total). Each ball contains 1.75 ounces and 142 yards.
• Needles: One size 8 (5mm) circular needle measuring 40 inches long, used to work the flat panels. Circular needles are preferred for their ability to accommodate a large number of cast-on stitches comfortably.
• Notions: Stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and placement points during construction, and a yarn needle for seaming the panels together and weaving in ends.
• Gauge: 14 stitches and 23½ rows equal 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which is essential to check before beginning to ensure proper fit and finished measurements.

Pattern Structure and Construction Details

The Bellflower follows a methodical construction approach. Each of the two panels begins with a cast-on of 181, 189, or 197 stitches depending on size. The pattern is worked over multiple rows, with the first 9 rows establishing the ribbed edge and stockinette foundation. The lace pattern is introduced in Row 10 with yarn-over and knit-two-together sequences spaced across the row, creating decorative openings. This lace row is then repeated at regular intervals throughout the body, with stockinette stitch rows filling the space between lace rows. The pattern repeats specific row sequences multiple times to build length, with size adjustments made in the later rows to accommodate the three different finished lengths. Once both panels are complete, they are blocked to measurements, then