Trendsetter Yarns Me Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Trendsetter Yarns Me #5902-L Three Color Slipped Stitch Cardigan

What Is Being Made

This is a three-color slipped stitch cardigan designed by Barry Klein for Trendsetter Yarns. The garment is a classic cardigan jacket worked in a striking color-blocked stripe pattern, featuring alternating rows of three distinct yarn colors. The design is available in four sizes to fit bust measurements of 38, 42, 46, and 50 inches, and is intended to be worn with positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Techniques Used

This cardigan is constructed using bottom-up seamed construction, meaning the pieces are knitted from the cast-on edge upward and then sewn together. The garment is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, creating separate front and back panels that require finishing seams.

The design incorporates striping as a primary design element. Each of the three colors is worked for exactly two rows before switching to the next color, and the yarn is carefully carried up the side edges between color changes to maintain neat edges and minimize weaving in ends. This technique creates bold horizontal stripes throughout the finished piece.

The cardigan features armhole shaping achieved through strategic bind-offs at the beginning of rows followed by decreases worked every other row to create a fitted sleeve cap. The pattern provides specific shaping instructions for each of the four sizes.

Stitches Used

• Ribbed Stitch (Rib St.): Alternating knit and purl stitches worked in a 1x1 pattern. This elastic stitch is used for the initial 2-inch cuff at the lower edge, creating a fitted band that helps the cardigan stay in place.
• Slipped Stitch (Slip St.): The primary stitch pattern for the body of the cardigan. Worked on right-side rows as purl 5, slip 1 as to purl with yarn in back, repeated across. On wrong-side rows, the pattern is knit 5, purl 1, repeated across. This creates a textured, dimensional fabric with subtle visual interest.
• Garter Stitch (Garter St.): Knitting every row to create a bumpy, reversible fabric texture. This stitch is referenced in the pattern instructions as an available option for customization.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The cardigan is designed to be knitted with Trendsetter Yarns Me yarn in three coordinating colors: Me #329 (Color A), Me #323 (Color B), and Me #338 (Color C). Each color requires 3 to 4 skeins of 100-gram weight, depending on the size being made.

The pattern calls for U.S. size #13 and #15 needles. The size #15 needles are used for the main body and ribbed cuff, while size #13 needles are listed as an alternative option. The recommended gauge when working the slipped stitch pattern with size #15 needles is 9 stitches over 4 inches, which should be verified before beginning the project to ensure proper finished dimensions.

Design Notes

The pattern encourages color selection flexibility, suggesting that crafters choose three colors that are very diverse from one another to maximize the visual impact of the striping. Alternatively, the cardigan can be worked in a single color if the striped effect is not desired, though this would eliminate the signature three-color design element.

The slipped stitch pattern creates a fabric with excellent drape and subtle texture, while the color blocking adds contemporary visual interest. The careful management of yarn colors up the side seams ensures a professional finish without excessive ends to weave in, making this an efficient construction method for a multi-color project.