Universal Yarn Flow Cardi Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Universal Yarn Flow Cardi

What Is Being Made

The Universal Yarn Flow Cardi is an oversized dolman sleeve cardigan designed by Rachel Brockman. This garment is an exceptionally lightweight and airy piece that combines comfort with sophisticated lace detailing. The cardigan features a relaxed, cozy fit and is designed to be worn with 15–20 inches of positive ease, making it an ideal layering piece. Available in four sizes ranging from Extra Small/Small through 3X/4X, the cardigan offers finished bust measurements of 47 inches (Extra Small/Small) up to 80½ inches (3X/4X), with a consistent length of 23 inches across all sizes.

Construction and Techniques

The Flow Cardi is knit flat in pieces from the bottom-up, a construction method that allows for precise shaping and easier adjustments during the knitting process. The most distinctive construction feature is the dolman sleeve design, which is worked simultaneously with the body pieces. The sleeves are created through a gradual casting-on and binding-off process that produces the characteristic flowing, draped silhouette of dolman sleeves without requiring complex in-the-round techniques.

The cardigan incorporates seamed construction, meaning the individual pieces are knit separately and then joined together using a tapestry needle. This approach provides clean, professional finishing and allows knitters to work on a flat surface throughout the project, making it accessible for those who prefer not to work in the round.

Lace is a central design element of this cardigan. The pattern features a Back Lace Panel consisting of 30 stitches that repeats across the garment. The lace pattern is worked over 6-row repeats and incorporates classic lace techniques including yarn overs (yo) and decreases such as sl2-k1-p2sso (slip 2 stitches together, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over). These techniques create the openwork, airy quality that makes this cardigan so visually striking and breathable.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The Flow Cardi employs several key stitches and stitch manipulations:

• Right Twist (RT): A decorative stitch created by knitting 2 stitches together without slipping the stitch from the needle, then knitting the first stitch again before slipping both stitches off. This creates a subtle twisted detail.
• Left Twist (LT): The mirror image of the Right Twist, created by knitting the second stitch on the needle first, then knitting the first stitch, producing a leftward-leaning twist.
• Yarn Overs (yo): Used throughout the lace pattern to create the characteristic holes and openwork that define the design.
• Central Decreases: The sl2-k1-p2sso (slip 2 stitches together knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over) decrease is used to balance yarn overs and create symmetrical lace motifs.
• Twisted Stitches (tbl): Stitches worked through the back loop add texture and definition to the pattern.
• I-Cord Bind-off: A specialty bind-off technique that creates a finished, cord-like edge. The pattern also includes a Sloped Bind-off variation that adds visual interest by slipping the last stitch of rows before the bind-off row.

Materials and Gauge

The Flow Cardi is designed to be worked in Universal Yarn Finn, a premium blend consisting of 50% acrylic, 25% superwash merino wool, and 25% alpaca. This fiber combination provides the lightweight, airy quality essential to the design while ensuring warmth and durability. The yarn is worked at 230 yards per 50-gram ball, with yardage requirements ranging from 5 balls (Extra Small/Small) to 10 balls (3X/4X) depending on size.

The pattern calls for two sizes of US circular needles: a US Size 5 (3.75 mm) 40-inch circular needle for the main fabric and a US Size 4 (3.5 mm) 40-inch circular needle for ribbing or edging. The gauge is 20 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches when working the Lace Repeat Pattern on the larger needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and drape.

Additional notions required include a tapestry needle for seaming the pieces together and stitch markers