Twist Collective Metropolis Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Metropolis Cardigan by Barry Klein

What Is Being Made

The Metropolis is a knitted cardigan designed by Barry Klein for Twist Collective. This garment features a sophisticated construction with decorative box pleats and cable detailing, making it a statement piece suitable for layering. The cardigan is intended to be worn with 2–3 inches of ease and is available in five finished bust sizes ranging from 33¼ inches to 47¼ inches, with corresponding length options from 23 to 27 inches.

Techniques Used

This cardigan employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the piece is knitted starting from the lower edge and working upward toward the shoulders and neckline. The garment is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for easier shaping and pattern work. Individual pieces are knitted separately and then seamed together to create the finished cardigan.

A distinctive design feature involves box pleat construction. The pattern includes detailed instructions for creating a box pleat by binding off stitches, folding the pleat as a square with overlapping fronts and back, and then picking up stitches through both thicknesses to integrate the pleat seamlessly into the garment. This technique adds visual interest and dimensional texture to the front of the cardigan.

Stitches Used

The Metropolis cardigan incorporates several key stitch patterns:

• Rib Stitch — A fundamental stitch pattern worked over an odd number of stitches. The rib alternates purl and knit stitches in the row below, creating vertical texture. Row 1 (right side) works as follows: purl 1, knit 1 in the row below, repeating to the last stitch and ending with purl 1. Row 2 (wrong side) begins with knit 1, then alternates purl 1 and knit 1 in the row below, finishing with purl 1 and knit 1. This rib stitch provides elasticity and structure to the cardigan.
• 6-Stitch Cable — A classic cable pattern worked over six stitches across ten rows. On rows 1, 5, 7, and 9 (right side), all six stitches are knitted. On rows 2, 4, 6, and 8 (wrong side), all six stitches are purled. The cable cross occurs on row 3, where three stitches are slipped to a cable needle and held to the front, three stitches are knitted from the left needle, and then the three stitches from the cable needle are knitted. Row 10 is worked as purl across all six stitches. This ten-row repeat creates a classic twisted cable texture.

The pattern notes that slip stitches should be worked as if to purl unless otherwise specified, a technique that creates neater edges and smoother seaming.

Materials

The suggested yarn for the Metropolis cardigan is Trendsetter Yarns New York, a 100% organic merino yarn. Each hank contains 180 yards (165 meters) and weighs 1¾ ounces (50 grams). The project requires 5 to 9 hanks depending on the finished size selected, with larger sizes requiring more yardage.

Needles specified for this project include a Size 6 US (4 mm) circular needle measuring 24 inches long and a Size 7 US (4.5 mm) circular needle also measuring 24 inches long. The pattern recommends adjusting needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge. Additional notions required include stitch markers, a cable needle, an F-5 (3.75 mm) crochet hook, and a sewing needle for seaming the finished pieces together.