Soft Cardi

Soft Cardi by Jenise Hope

Project Overview

The Soft Cardi is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Jenise Hope and available in six sizes ranging from extra small to 2X large, fitting bust measurements from 30 inches to 50 inches. This downloadable PDF pattern features a tie cardigan construction with three inches of built-in ease, allowing knitters to size down if a tighter fit is preferred. The design combines elegant construction techniques with a luxurious yarn choice, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle shaping and garment assembly.

What Is Being Made

The Soft Cardi is a wearable cardigan sweater featuring a tie closure system. The garment is constructed using seamless knitting methods, with the body and yoke worked on circular needles and sleeves completed using either circular needles or double-pointed needles. The tie cardigan style offers a flattering, adjustable closure that adds both functional and aesthetic appeal to the finished piece.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques that create a polished, professionally finished garment. The cardigan uses seamless construction, a method that minimizes seaming and creates clean, continuous fabric. The yoke and body are worked together on a circular needle, which allows for top-down construction or similar integrated shaping methods. Sleeve shaping is incorporated to create proper armhole depth and sleeve cap fit. The tie closure system requires careful attention to edge finishing and tie construction, adding a refined detail to the design.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

While the PDF content does not specify particular stitch abbreviations or detailed stitch pattern charts, the pattern utilizes standard knitting stitches appropriate for lace-weight yarn. The gauge specification of 23 stitches and 33 rows over 4 inches indicates that the pattern likely incorporates stockinette stitch as a foundation fabric, which is typical for cardigan construction. The lace-weight yarn category suggests the possibility of openwork or delicate stitch patterns that create visual interest while maintaining the airy, lightweight quality characteristic of this yarn weight.

Yarn and Materials

The Soft Cardi is designed to be knitted with Knitpicks Aloft in the colorway Tranquil. This luxurious yarn blend consists of 25 percent silk and 75 percent mohair, creating a soft, lustrous fabric with excellent drape. Yardage requirements vary by size: extra small requires 5 balls (approximately 1,230 meters total), small and medium each require 6 balls (approximately 1,476 meters), large and extra large each require 7 balls (approximately 1,722 meters), and 2X large requires 8 balls (approximately 1,968 meters). Each ball weighs 25 grams and provides 246 meters of yarn.

Needles and Tools

Knitters will need 3.5 millimeter (US size 4) needles to achieve the correct gauge. The pattern recommends using a 24-inch circular needle for working the body and yoke sections, with either circular needles or double-pointed needles for sleeve construction. Having both needle options available allows knitters to choose their preferred method for working small circumferences in the round.

Gauge and Blocking Considerations

The specified gauge is 23 stitches and 33 rows over 4 inches, measured from a washed and lightly blocked swatch. The pattern designer emphasizes the importance of proper gauge measurement technique, noting that her personal blocking method involves patting the finished swatch flat on the floor without pins or aggressive blocking. This gentle approach is particularly important for Aloft yarn, which has a tendency to grow and relax with wear rather than shrink like traditional wool fibers. Knitters who prefer a crisper, more structured finished garment are advised to pin out their gauge swatch tightly during blocking and to pin out the completed cardigan when washing, which will result in a more defined fabric appearance.

Yarn Characteristics and Care Notes

Knitpicks Aloft is a specialized yarn that behaves differently from standard wool. The silk and mohair blend creates an exceptionally soft, lightweight fabric with beautiful drape. A key characteristic noted in the pattern is that Aloft tends to grow and stretch with wear rather than shrink, making proper gauge measurement and blocking technique especially critical for achieving the intended finished measurements. This behavior influences both the blocking method and the fit expectations for the finished cardigan.