Universal Yarn Sweet Basil Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Universal Yarn Sweet Basil Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Sweet Basil Cardigan is a women's cardigan designed by Michael del Vecchio, available in five sizes ranging from X-Small to 2X. This garment features finished bust measurements of 26 (32½, 39, 45½, 52) inches with a length of 20¼ (21½, 22½, 23, 24) inches. The cardigan is crafted from Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme Batik, a 100% cotton yarn in the colorway Sea Glass, requiring 3 to 7 balls depending on size selection.

Construction Technique

The Sweet Basil Cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up, seamed, worked-flat approach. This method involves knitting individual pieces separately on flat needles before joining them together. The garment features integrated sleeve shaping, with 33 stitches cast on at the start of rows to form the sleeve caps. The construction includes strategic shaping at the neckline, with bind-offs and decreases worked over multiple rows to create a refined neck opening. Pieces are joined using a three-needle bind-off technique, which creates a secure seam while simultaneously binding off stitches, particularly at the shoulders where the sleeve caps meet the back and front panels.

Stitches and Lace Details

The pattern incorporates lace stitch work throughout the garment, with specific stitch patterns maintained across designated sections. The construction uses fundamental knitting stitches including knit and purl stitches, with slip stitches worked purl-wise with yarn in front (wyif) to create neat selvage edges. Stitch markers are strategically placed to delineate pattern sections and maintain consistency across rows. The pattern includes repeated rows that maintain established stitch patterns while incorporating shaping decreases, such as knit-two-together (k2tog) reductions worked at specific intervals to shape the neckline.

Materials and Tools

This project requires US 10 (6 mm) circular needles measuring 29 inches or longer, which accommodate the flat knitting method and allow for working across multiple stitches. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping points, stitch holders for temporarily securing stitches during construction, and a tapestry needle for seaming and finishing. The yarn used is Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme Batik, a 100% cotton fiber available in 100-gram balls with 180 yards per ball. The gauge requirement is essential to achieve proper finished measurements, and knitters should swatch before beginning to ensure their tension matches the pattern specifications.

Pattern Features

• Five size options accommodating Women's X-Small through 2X
• Lace stitch pattern worked throughout the body and sleeves
• Integrated sleeve construction with cap shaping
• Shaped neckline with graduated bind-offs and decreases
• Seamed construction for a polished, finished appearance
• Upper arm measurements ranging from 12½ to 17 inches across sizes