Tahki Yarns Harlow Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Harlow Cardigan Pattern Summary

What Is Being Made

The Harlow Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Joan Beebe. This garment is available in seven sizes ranging from XSmall to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 35 inches (89 cm) to 63 inches (160 cm) and lengths from 29¾ inches (75.5 cm) to 33½ inches (85 cm). The cardigan features a 2-inch (5 cm) overlap front closure and is finished with twelve 1⅛-inch (28 mm) buttons for a classic, structured fit.

Techniques Used

This cardigan incorporates several intermediate knitting techniques that add visual interest and structural integrity to the finished garment. The pattern employs cables as a primary design element, created using cable needles to cross stitches and form dimensional twisted patterns. Buttonholes are worked into the front bands to accommodate the twelve button closures, requiring careful stitch manipulation and shaping. The garment is worked in the round using circular needles, a technique that creates seamless construction and allows for efficient knitting of larger fabric areas. This method is particularly useful for cardigans as it enables the knitter to work the body, sleeves, and other components in continuous rounds rather than flat pieces, reducing finishing work and creating a more polished final product.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used throughout the Harlow Cardigan is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side and bumpy texture on the wrong side. The gauge for this pattern is 16 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch worked on the larger needles, making it essential to check gauge before beginning to ensure proper fit across all sizes.

Cable stitches are executed using specific abbreviations: C4F (cable 4 front) involves slipping 2 stitches to a cable needle and holding them in front, purling 2 stitches, then knitting 2 stitches from the cable needle. C4B (cable 4 back) follows the reverse process, slipping 2 stitches to a cable needle and holding them in back, purling 2 stitches, then knitting 2 stitches from the cable needle. These cable crosses create the dimensional twisted patterns characteristic of cable-knit designs.

Additional stitch techniques include M1L (make 1 left), an increase method that lifts the strand between needles from front to back and works it through the back loop to prevent holes, and standard decreases such as K2tog (knit 2 together) and P2tog (purl 2 together), which reduce stitch counts as needed for shaping.

Materials and Tools

The Harlow Cardigan is constructed using Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed, a 100% new wool yarn available in color #815 navy blue. The yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 7 hanks for XSmall (1,281 yards/1,169 meters total) to 13 hanks for 3X (2,379 yards/2,171 meters total), with each hank containing 3.5 ounces (100 grams) and 183 yards (167 meters).

The pattern requires specific needle sizes to achieve proper gauge: size 9 (5.5 mm) circular needles measuring 32 inches (80 cm) long are used for the main fabric, while size 8 (5 mm) circular needles of the same length are used for ribbed edgings and cuffs. Both needle sizes are available in double-pointed needle sets for working smaller circumferences such as sleeves. Additional tools include a cable needle for executing cable crosses, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and increases, stitch holders or waste yarn for temporarily securing stitches during construction, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and seaming any necessary sections.

Construction Details

The body of the cardigan is worked in the round from the bottom up using the longer circular needle. Increases are strategically placed to shape the garment, with an increase round (Inc Rnd) that adds one stitch on each side of the piece by working M1 increases. The frequency of these increase rounds varies by size, occurring every 10, 8, 6, or 4 rounds depending on the specific size being knitted, with multiple repetitions to gradually expand the fabric to the desired bust measurement. Once the