Womens Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Women's Cardigan in Plymouth Yarn Cashmere De Cotone

What is Being Made

This is an advanced knitting pattern for a women's cardigan featuring a sophisticated blend of stitch patterns. The cardigan is designed to fit women's sizes Small through XXL, with finished chest measurements ranging from 34 inches to 50 inches and lengths from 22 to 26 inches. The garment is constructed with a five-button front closure and features coordinated stitch work across the body and sleeves, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various occasions.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several advanced knitting techniques that elevate it to an intermediate-to-advanced skill level. The cardigan utilizes cable knitting as a primary design element, particularly in the Horseshoe Pattern sections that feature slipped stitches worked over a cable needle to create dimensional, interlocking stitch formations. The garment is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for seamless construction of the front and back panels. Gauge swatching is critical for this pattern, as three different stitch patterns require separate gauge measurements to ensure proper fit. The pattern also incorporates blocking as an essential finishing technique to achieve accurate dimensions and stitch definition.

Stitches Used

• 1x1 Ribbing: An alternating knit and purl stitch worked over two rows, used for the ribbed edging and cuff sections. This creates an elastic, fitted edge that hugs the body at the neckline, front bands, and sleeve cuffs.
• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The foundational smooth stitch created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, used as the base for the Texture Pattern.
• Texture Pattern: A multi-row pattern combining knit and purl stitches over an 8-row repeat with a 2-stitch plus 1 multiple. This pattern creates visual interest through alternating rows of solid knits, purls, and ribbed sections, adding depth without the complexity of cable work.
• Horseshoe Pattern: An advanced 12-stitch repeat pattern that features cable crossings created by slipping stitches to a cable needle, then working stitches in a specific sequence to create the characteristic horseshoe or interlocking cable effect. This pattern is worked over multiple rows with strategic purl stitches framing the cable elements.

Materials and Tools

This cardigan is knitted using Plymouth Yarn Cashmere de Cotone, a luxurious blend yarn that combines the softness of cashmere with the breathability and durability of cotton. The yardage required ranges from 450 grams (9 balls of 50g) for size Small to 650 grams (13 balls of 50g) for size XXL, allowing crafters to choose the quantity appropriate for their desired size. The pattern specifies color 2 Green.

Needles and notions include US Size 6 (4mm) circular needles in two lengths: a 24-inch needle (or 32-inch for larger sizes) for working the main body sections, and a 40-inch circular needle for the front ribbed band. The longer circular needle accommodates the large stitch count without requiring the stitches to be worked in the round. Additional notions include 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, 1 stitch holder for managing stitches during construction, and 5 buttons from Dill #265725, each measuring 20mm in diameter for the front closure.

Gauge Information

Achieving proper gauge is essential for this advanced pattern, as three different stitch patterns require individual gauge measurements. Stockinette stitch and Texture Pattern should measure 20 stitches and 26 rows over 4 inches when worked on US Size 6 needles and blocked. The Horseshoe Pattern requires 12 stitches to measure 2 inches over the same needle size after blocking. The 1x1 Ribbing should measure 20 stitches over 4 inches when worked on US Size 6 needles with slight stretching. Blocking is specified for all gauge measurements, indicating that the finished dimensions depend on proper wet or steam blocking to set the stitches and achieve the intended drape and fit.