Trendsetter Yarns D Soffio & New York - Centered A-Line Ridge Cardigan

Trendsetter Yarns D Soffio & New York - Centered A-Line Ridge Cardigan

What is Being Made

This is a knitted cardigan designed by Barry Klein, featuring a distinctive centered A-line silhouette with ridge detailing. The cardigan is constructed in five sizes to fit bust measurements of 37, 42, 47, 52, and 57 inches, with an additional 5 inches of swing ease at the bottom for comfortable, flowing wear. The A-line shaping creates a flattering garment that widens from the center panels outward, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various body types and styling preferences.

Construction Technique

This cardigan is worked flat on straight needles using a bottom-up construction method with seaming. The pattern employs a unique modular approach where the center back panel and two center front panels are created first as individual pieces. Stitches are then picked up along the side edges of these center panels, and the body is constructed outward from there. This technique allows for precise shaping and the creation of the centered ridge detail that defines the garment's aesthetic. Once all pieces are completed, they are seamed together to form the finished cardigan.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (Stock St.): The primary stitch used throughout most of the cardigan. Stockinette is created by knitting all stitches on right-side rows and purling all stitches on wrong-side rows, producing a smooth, classic fabric with a V-pattern appearance on the front.
• Reverse Stockinette Stitch (Rev. Stock St.): The inverse of stockinette, created by purling on right-side rows and knitting on wrong-side rows. This stitch creates the bumpy texture that forms the ridge detailing characteristic of this design.
• Ribbing Stitch (Rib St.): A 1x1 rib pattern alternating knit and purl stitches (K1, P1 repeat) used for finishing edges and creating elastic, fitted sections such as cuffs and button bands.

Yarn and Materials

This cardigan is knitted using Trendsetter Soffio and Trendsetter New York yarns worked together as a two-strand combination. The Soffio yarn is used at 3-8 grams per 25-gram ball depending on size, while the New York yarn is used at 3-5 grams per 50-gram ball. This double-stranded approach creates a unique fabric with interesting texture and visual interest. The pattern calls for U.S. size 9 and 10½ knitting needles, with the size 10½ needle used for the main fabric to achieve a gauge of 12 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. The combination of these specific needles and yarns produces the proper drape and structure needed for the A-line silhouette and ridge detailing to display correctly.

Design Features

The centered ridge cardigan showcases thoughtful design elements that enhance both its visual appeal and wearability. The decreasing stitches worked into the center panels create the tapered ridge detail that runs down the front and back of the garment. Strategic decreases are worked every 9 or 8 rows (depending on size) to shape the panels precisely. The ribbed edging on the center panels provides structure and definition, while the stockinette and reverse stockinette stitches work together to create textural contrast. This combination of techniques results in a sophisticated garment with dimensional interest that flatters the wearer through its carefully engineered A-line shaping.