Twist Collective Aerial Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Twist Collective Aerial Cardigan by Angela Hahn

What Is Being Made

Aerial is a seamless cardigan designed by Angela Hahn, featuring a sophisticated construction that combines bottom-up body shaping with raglan sleeve integration. The finished cardigan is available in seven sizes, ranging from 33 ½ inches to 57 inches in bust measurement, with a length of approximately 22 ¾ to 25 ½ inches depending on size. The cardigan is intended to be worn with 2 to 5 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Construction Techniques

This cardigan employs a hybrid construction method that combines multiple knitting techniques for a polished, professional finish. The body of the garment, including the button and buttonhole bands, is worked in a single piece from the bottom up to the armholes using a flat knitting method. This seamless approach eliminates the need for seaming the front and back panels together, reducing finishing work and creating clean, continuous lines.

The sleeves are worked separately in the round from the cuff upward to the armhole, allowing for even stitch distribution and a professional appearance. Once both sleeves reach the appropriate length, they are joined to the body and the yoke is worked back and forth in flat rows. The yoke features raglan shaping, which creates diagonal decreases that slope from the underarm toward the neckline, resulting in a flattering, tailored silhouette.

The pattern includes integrated buttonholes worked simultaneously with the body construction, though an alternative afterthought buttonhole method is provided for those who prefer to add buttonholes after the garment is complete and blocked. The afterthought technique involves carefully opening and reinforcing marked stitches to create functional buttonholes.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Aerial cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches organized into a structured stitch guide. The pattern features a column-based construction method, with specific stitch sequences repeated across the fabric. The stitch guide includes knit stitches, purl stitches, slipped stitches worked with yarn in front (wyif), and marker placement to denote pattern repeats and shaping points. The buttonhole and button bands are worked in a simple alternating pattern of knit and slipped stitches, creating a refined edge detail.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The suggested yarn for this project is Plymouth Yarns Equinox, a premium blend composed of 65% Extrafine Merino, 20% Linen, and 15% Mulberry Silk. This fiber combination provides excellent drape, breathability, and a subtle sheen characteristic of silk-blended yarns. Each skein contains 137 yards of yardage and weighs 1 ¾ ounces (50 grams). The recommended yardage ranges from 6 skeins for the smallest size to 11 skeins for the largest size, providing approximately 822 to 1,507 total yards depending on the finished size selected. The color shown in the sample is #007 Gray Sunrise, a neutral tone suitable for versatile styling.

Needles and Tools

This pattern requires a Size 8 US (5 mm) circular needle measuring at least 36 inches in length for working the body, yoke, and neckline edging. The longer circular needle accommodates the full width of stitches required for the body without crowding, and allows for seamless transitions when joining the sleeves to the body. Additional standard knitting notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping locations, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and constructing afterthought buttonholes if desired.