110 Flutter Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Conway

110 Flutter Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women

What is Being Made

The Flutter Cardigan is a women's cardigan designed by Melissa Morgan-Oakes, featuring a sweet and flattering silhouette created through thoughtful shaping techniques. This garment is knit from the bottom up in a simple lacy rib stitch pattern that provides subtle visual interest while maintaining an elegant, wearable aesthetic suitable for intermediate knitters.

Construction Method and Techniques

This cardigan is worked flat on needles using a bottom-up construction method, meaning you begin knitting at the lower edge and work upward toward the shoulders and neckline. The design incorporates several key shaping techniques:

• Lace stitch work: A simple lacy rib stitch forms the foundation of the pattern, creating a delicate texture that adds visual depth without overwhelming the design
• Short row shaping: Strategic short rows are used to shape both the shoulder caps and sleeve caps, a technique that flatters the knitter's skills by creating a professional fit. The pattern uses wrap-and-turn (w&t) methods to prevent holes when turning work mid-row
• Seamed construction: Pieces are worked separately and then seamed together, allowing for precise shaping and a polished finished garment
• Shoulder shaping with wraps: When binding off shoulders, wraps created during short row shaping are picked up and worked together with their corresponding stitches for a neat, finished appearance

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern is a lacy rib, which combines knit and purl stitches with yarn overs to create openwork sections. The pattern includes multiple sizes with stitch counts ranging from 23 to 35 stitches for shoulder sections, with center front bind-offs ranging from 35 to 51 stitches depending on size. Standard knitting abbreviations used throughout include K (knit), P (purl), BO (bind off), and w&t (wrap and turn) for short row shaping.

Materials

The Flutter Cardigan is designed to be knit with DK weight yarn, a versatile yarn weight that works well for creating garments with drape and subtle stitch definition. The pattern is worked on needles appropriate for DK yarn (typically US 4-6 range, though specific needle size should be confirmed in the complete pattern). Valley Yarns Conway is the recommended yarn for this design, though any DK weight yarn with suitable yardage and fiber content can be substituted.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle shaping techniques. The short row shaping and lace stitch work require attention to detail and understanding of intermediate techniques, but the straightforward construction method and clear shaping instructions make it an achievable project for developing knitters.