Yamanashi Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Yamanashi Cardigan in Rowan Kidsilk Haze

What is Being Made

The Yamanashi Cardigan is an advanced-level knitted cardigan designed by Zandra Rhodes. This garment is tailored to fit bust measurements between 81-107 cm (32-42 inches) and features a sophisticated patterned upper body combined with a shaped lower body. The design incorporates color work and structured shaping at the armholes and waistline, creating a refined silhouette suitable for experienced knitters.

Techniques Used

This cardigan employs the intarsia technique, a color-work method that allows multiple colors to be incorporated into the design while maintaining a smooth fabric surface. The intarsia approach is worked from a detailed chart throughout the upper body section, enabling complex color patterns to be executed seamlessly. The garment also features strategic decreasing to shape the waistline and armholes, with decreases worked at regular intervals to create a tailored fit. The construction involves working separate sections that are later joined, demonstrating intermediate garment construction principles.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (st st) – the primary stitch throughout the patterned and plain sections, created by alternating knit and purl rows to produce a smooth, flat fabric
• Single decreases – worked at armhole edges and waistline to shape the garment
• Cast-off stitches – used in graduated sequences to bind off stitches at the armhole edges, creating a structured shoulder line
• Crochet stitches – chain (ch), double crochet (dc), and slip stitch (ss) are referenced for finishing details

Materials and Tools

This project uses Rowan Kidsilk Haze, a luxurious yarn available in multiple colorways. The first colorway option includes Ghost (642) as the main color (14 x 25gm), supplemented by Lavender (697), Hurricane (632), Grace (580), Blushes (583), and Candy Girl (606) in single 25gm quantities for color work. The second colorway substitutes Hurricane (632), Campsis (727), Alhambra (666), Candy Girl (606), Trance (582), and Plum (718) for similar color accents.

Needles required include one pair of 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the main knitting, worked at a tension of 25 stitches and 34 rows to 10 cm measured over patterned and plain stockinette stitch. A 3.00mm (US C2/D3) crochet hook is also needed for finishing work.

Construction Details

The cardigan is constructed in distinct sections. The upper body begins with 133 stitches cast on loosely using the 3¼mm needles and the main yarn color. The patterned section is worked over 62 rows in stockinette stitch following the intarsia chart. Waistline shaping is achieved through strategic decreases worked every 8 rows over 10 rows, reducing the stitch count to 122 stitches. The armhole shaping involves a series of decreases: 12 consecutive rows of decreases at the armhole edge, followed by decreases on alternating rows. The cast-off sequence at the armhole is graduated, beginning with 3-stitch cast-offs and progressively increasing to 10-stitch cast-offs, creating a shaped shoulder line. This advanced construction technique ensures a professional, tailored appearance suitable for a designer cardigan.