Vorsól Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Vorsól Cardigan in LOPI Léttlopi

What is Being Made

The Vorsól Cardigan is a spring-inspired knitted cardigan designed by LOPIDESIGN.is. This intermediate-level garment features a classic cardigan silhouette with a yoke construction and button front closure. The design is available in five sizes ranging from XS to XL, with chest measurements from 90 cm to 116 cm. The cardigan is named after the spring season theme, evoking imagery of sunshine breaking through late snow.

Knitting Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several advanced knitting techniques suitable for intermediate crafters. The construction begins with circular knitting, with the body and sleeves worked in the round from the lower edge up to the underarms. The garment then transitions to a yoke construction, where the body and sleeves are joined together and worked in the round to create the fitted upper portion. The pattern incorporates charted colorwork during the yoke shaping, requiring knitters to follow a detailed stitch pattern from a chart while simultaneously decreasing stitches. The front opening features a steek construction—a traditional Icelandic technique where stitches are cast on at the center front, then later cut and secured with machine stitching to create a stable button band. This technique allows for seamless circular knitting while still achieving a front cardigan opening.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the Vorsól Cardigan is stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic fabric. The gauge is established at 18 stitches and 24 rows per 10 x 10 cm square when worked on 4.5 mm needles in stockinette stitch. The yoke features a charted pattern that combines knit and purl stitches, with purl stitches forming the steek at the front center. The pattern includes strategic increases along the sleeves—worked evenly spaced to maintain shaping—and decreases during the yoke shaping as indicated by the charted pattern. Underarm stitches are held on stitch holders and later grafted together using the Kitchener stitch, creating invisible seams.

Materials and Tools

The Vorsól Cardigan is designed to be worked in LOPI Léttlopi, an Icelandic wool yarn sold in 50-gram balls. The colorway uses three colors: Color A in Mimosa (1703) for the main body, requiring 6 to 8 balls depending on size; Color B in Fjord Blue (1701) for accent work, requiring 2 to 3 balls; and Color C in White (0051) for contrast, requiring 1 to 2 balls. The pattern requires multiple circular needles in different sizes: a 4.5 mm (US 7) circular needle in both 40 cm and 60-80 cm lengths for the main body and yoke work, a 4 mm (US 6) circular needle in 80 cm length for transitional sections, and a 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle in 80 cm length for ribbing or finishing. Double-pointed needles in both 3.5 mm and 4.5 mm sizes are needed for small circumference sections. The cardigan is finished with seven buttons for the front closure. Machine stitching with matching thread is used to secure the steek, and the pattern recommends weaving in loose ends carefully, particularly those adjacent to the purl stitch steek.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The Vorsól Cardigan is offered in five sizes with the following finished measurements:

• XS: Chest 90 cm, lower edge width 97 cm, length to underarm 26 cm, sleeve length to underarm 44 cm
• S: Chest 96 cm, lower edge width 104 cm, length to underarm 28 cm, sleeve length to underarm 45 cm
• M: Chest 103 cm, lower edge width 111 cm, length to underarm 30 cm, sleeve length to underarm 46 cm
• L: Chest 110 cm, lower edge width 117 cm, length to underarm 32 cm, sleeve length to underarm 47 cm
• XL: Chest 116 cm, lower edge width 124 cm, length to underarm 34 cm, sleeve length to underarm 48 cm