Twist Collective Lovat Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Lovat Cardigan by Anne Ginger

What is Being Made

The Lovat is a fitted cardigan designed by Anne Ginger for Twist Collective. This garment features seven size options ranging from 29 ½" to 53" bust measurement, with corresponding finished lengths between 23 ½" and 25 ¾". The cardigan is intended to be worn with 0–2" of ease, creating a close, tailored silhouette. The design showcases decorative cable patterns along the front edges and incorporates strategic shaping throughout the body for a refined fit.

Construction Technique

The Lovat cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up, worked-flat method with seamed construction. The body is worked in one continuous piece from the cast-on edge to the underarm, beginning with a hem facing created using the provisional cast-on method. After the body reaches the underarm, the fronts and back are separated and worked independently to the shoulder. The shoulder seams are then joined using a three-needle bind-off technique, which creates a strong, finished seam. The sleeves are worked separately from the bottom up. The front bands and collar are picked up in sections after the body is complete, shaped using short rows for a custom fit, and bound off as one unified piece while simultaneously creating buttonholes.

Stitches and Cable Details

The Lovat incorporates several key stitching techniques to achieve its structured appearance. Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric base. Cable stitches feature prominently along the front edges, with the pattern including specialized cable increase rows (C4F-inc3, C4F-inc2, C4B-inc3, C4B-inc2) that simultaneously create the decorative cable effect while shaping the front edges through integrated increases and decreases. Decreases are strategically placed throughout the body using standard decrease methods (skp and k2tog) to refine the fit. The pattern requires careful attention to multiple shaping elements worked simultaneously, including waist shaping and armhole adjustments, necessitating thorough pattern review before beginning each section.

Materials and Tools

The suggested yarn for the Lovat is Valley Yarns Northampton, a 100% wool yarn available in #42 Lake Heather. Yardage requirements range from 988 yards (4 skeins) for the smallest size to 1,729 yards (7 skeins) for the largest size, with each skein providing 247 yards of yardage. Needles required include a size 7 US (4.5 mm) circular needle measuring 32–47" in length depending on bust size, and a spare size 7 US (4.5 mm needle at least 24" long for joining the hem and shoulders. Needle size may be adjusted as needed to achieve the correct gauge.