Universal Yarn Surf Hoodie Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Universal Yarn Surf Hoodie: Knitted Lace Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Universal Yarn Surf Hoodie is a knitted cardigan featuring a lace pattern design and integrated hood. This garment is constructed in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X, with finished bust measurements from 35 inches to 53½ inches. The hoodie is designed to be worn with 8 inches of positive ease, making it a relaxed, comfortable fit suitable for layering or casual wear. The garment closes with a 24-inch separating zipper, allowing the hoodie to function as both a cardigan and a zippered jacket.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the garment is worked starting from the lower edges and progressing upward toward the shoulders and hood. The hoodie is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, and all pieces are seamed together after completion. This approach allows for precise shaping and the incorporation of lace stitch patterns throughout the body and sleeves.

The pattern includes strategic increases for sleeve shaping, worked on right-side rows using make-one (m1) increases at the edges to create gradual sleeve expansion. The lace pattern is maintained throughout the increases, with new stitches kept in stockinette stitch for the first six rows after increases to ensure clean shaping. The hood is constructed in separate pieces and seamed to the neckline, with different chart patterns assigned to different size ranges for proper fit.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is the Surf Lace, a 12-row repeat worked over a multiple of 8 stitches plus 2. This lace pattern features the following key elements:

• Yarn overs (yo) that create the characteristic open, airy quality of lace knitting
• Double yarn overs [yo] 2 times, which produce decorative holes and contribute to the lace aesthetic
• Decreases including knit 2 together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) decreases, which balance the yarn overs and maintain stitch count
• Stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows) for body sections and newly increased stitches
• Garter stitch (knit every row) used for the lower 3 inches of the back piece, providing a stable, textured foundation

The lace pattern repeats across the width of the garment in a symmetrical design, with edge stitches (k1 or k2) maintained at the beginning and end of rows to ensure clean selvage edges for seaming.

Materials and Tools

This pattern is designed to be worked with Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme, a 100% cotton yarn available in 100-gram hanks with 180 yards per hank. The featured colorway is Aqua. Yardage requirements range from 5 hanks for the smallest size to 8 hanks for the largest size (3X), providing approximately 900 to 1,440 yards of yarn depending on size selection.

Needles required are US Size 7 (4.5 mm) straight needles, or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, a stitch holder for temporarily holding stitches during construction, and a 24-inch separating zipper for the front closure.

Gauge and Sizing Information

The pattern specifies a gauge of 17 stitches by 23 rows equals 4 inches when worked in the Surf Lace pattern. Accurate gauge is essential for proper fit, as the lace pattern's openness can affect final measurements. The pattern includes size-specific notes indicating that certain sizes follow different chart variations for the front and hood pieces, ensuring proper shaping across the full size range.