Tahki Yarns Hemingway Boyfriend Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Hemingway Boyfriend Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Hemingway Boyfriend Cardigan is a relaxed-fit knitted cardigan designed by John Brinegar, available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X. This garment features a classic boyfriend silhouette with finished bust measurements from 41 inches (Small) to 61 inches (3X), and a length ranging from 24 to 26 inches depending on size. The cardigan is an ideal layering piece with a comfortable, oversized aesthetic.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up knitting method, meaning the garment is worked from the hem upward. The front and back pieces are worked flat on straight needles, then seamed together to create the finished garment. A specialized shaping technique called Short Rows with Wrap & Turn (W&T) is employed for shoulder shaping, which creates smooth, graduated shoulder lines without visible steps. This advanced technique involves wrapping yarn around slipped stitches to maintain stitch continuity and is worked on subsequent rows by picking up the wraps and knitting them together with their corresponding stitches. Sleeves are picked up around the armholes and worked in the round using circular needles, eliminating the need for sleeve seams.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout the cardigan is Stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for showcasing yarn texture. The lower edge features a ribbed cuff pattern worked over 3 inches, combining knit and purl stitches in a 2x2 rib variation (p2, k2) to create elasticity and a finished edge. Standard decreases used for shaping include K2tog (knit 2 together) for single decreases and SK2P (slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over) for double decreases, which are strategically placed for neckline shaping.

Materials

The Hemingway Boyfriend Cardigan is knitted using Tahki Yarns JUNO, a luxurious blend of 97% alpaca and 3% nylon. The yarn is available in color #04 smoke, a neutral shade suitable for versatile styling. Yardage requirements range from 15 balls for the Small size to 24 balls for the 3X size, with each ball containing 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and 84 yards (77 meters) of yarn. Construction requires one pair of size 10 (6mm) straight needles for the flat-worked pieces, plus size 10 (6mm) circular needles in both 24-inch (60cm) and 16-inch (40cm) lengths for working the sleeves in the round. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and a yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends. The recommended gauge is 16 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Stockinette stitch.