Vetiver Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Vetiver Cardigan by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Vetiver Cardigan is a sophisticated knitted cardigan designed to fit chest measurements ranging from 71-76 cm (28-30 inches) up to 152-157 cm (60-62 inches), offering nine size options for a broad range of wearers. This advanced beginner knitting project creates a tailored garment with structured shaping at the sleeves and a finished front opening edge, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions and seasons.

Knitting Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques that build skills appropriate for advanced beginners. The pattern incorporates stockinette stitch as the primary fabric structure, which creates a smooth, professional appearance across the body and sleeves. Decreasing stitches is used strategically to shape the sleeves, with decreases worked at regular intervals to achieve a fitted sleeve cap. The pattern also features garter stitch detailing, which is worked over seven rows and provides textural contrast and structural definition. Additionally, the pattern demonstrates casting on and casting off techniques, including a knitwise cast-off worked on the wrong side for a refined edge finish. The use of waste yarn allows for provisional stitches that can be unraveled and picked up later, a technique essential for constructing the front opening edges of the cardigan.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The dominant stitch throughout the body and sleeves, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing the classic smooth fabric
• Garter Stitch (g st): Worked for seven rows at the cuff edges, created by knitting every row to produce a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges
• Reverse Stockinette: Implied in the edge treatment where knit stitches are maintained at the front opening (K2, P to last 2 sts, K2), creating a neat selvage

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Vetiver Cardigan is worked using Rowan Cotton Trio yarn in a weight of 50 grams per ball. The pattern specifies nine to eighteen balls depending on the size selected, with the sample photographed in the colorway Leaf 115. Cotton Trio is a three-ply cotton yarn that provides breathability and a refined drape, making it ideal for a cardigan that can be worn across multiple seasons.

The pattern requires two sets of needles in metric sizing: 3mm (US 2/3) needles for ribbing and edge work, and 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the main fabric. A 3¼mm (US 3) circular needle measuring at least 100-120 cm in length (depending on size) is essential for working the front opening edges in the round. A small amount of waste yarn is also needed for provisional cast-on techniques.

Pattern Structure and Shaping

The cardigan is constructed with careful attention to fit and proportion. The body is worked in stockinette stitch to a specified length before sleeve shaping begins. Sleeve cap shaping involves casting off a set number of stitches at the beginning of two consecutive rows, followed by strategic decreases worked at regular intervals—either every sixth, fourth, or alternate row depending on the size—to create a smooth, tailored sleeve head. The pattern maintains stitch definition throughout with edge stitches (K2) worked at the front edges, ensuring a neat selvage. The transition from stockinette to garter stitch at the cuff provides textural interest and helps prevent rolling at the edges. The front opening is constructed using provisional stitches that are later picked up and worked, a technique that ensures seamless integration of the front bands.

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for this project. The pattern specifies a tension of 24 stitches and 34 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over stockinette stitch using the 3¼mm (US 3) needles. Accurate gauge ensures that the finished cardigan will fit properly across all nine sizes and that the proportions of the sleeves and body will be correct.