Abbi Light

Abbi Light Shawl Collar Cardigan by Elizabeth Smith

What is Being Made

The Abbi Light is a shawl collar cardigan designed by Elizabeth Smith as part of her knits collection. This garment features a classic shawl collar construction and is available in seven sizes ranging from XS to 3X, with finished circumferences from 33 inches (84 cm) to 45 inches (114 cm). The cardigan is designed to be worn with 1 to 2 inches of positive ease, offering a comfortable, relaxed fit suitable for various body types.

Difficulty Level and Suitability

The Abbi Light is classified as a beginner-level knitting project, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are new to cardigan construction or shaping techniques. Despite its beginner designation, the pattern incorporates several fundamental knitting skills that help build foundational knowledge.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several essential knitting techniques that are fundamental to garment construction:

• Kfb (Knit Front and Back): A basic increase method where the knitter knits into the front of a stitch, then before removing it from the left needle, inserts the right needle tip into the back of the same stitch and pulls it off the needle, creating one additional stitch. This technique is commonly used for shaping increases throughout the garment.
• M1-R (Make One Right): A left-leaning increase worked by picking up the strand between two stitches from back to front using the left needle, then knitting into the front of this picked-up stitch with the right needle. This creates one additional stitch and is often used in shaping sequences.
• M1-L (Make One Left): A right-leaning increase worked by picking up the strand between two stitches from front to back using the left needle, then knitting into the back of this picked-up stitch with the right needle. This creates one additional stitch and pairs with M1-R for balanced shaping.
• Knitted-on Cast On: A cast-on method where the knitter inserts the right needle into a stitch on the left needle and works it as if knitting, but instead of pulling the original stitch off the needle, the new stitch is placed on the needle. This technique is useful for adding stitches during construction or for creating a neat edge.

Stitches Used

Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch pattern used throughout the Abbi Light cardigan. Stockinette stitch is created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, flat fabric with characteristic V-shaped stitches on the public-facing side. This classic stitch is ideal for showcasing yarn texture and drape.

Yarn and Materials

The Abbi Light is designed to be worked in DK weight yarn, a medium-light yarn weight that provides excellent stitch definition and drape. The total yardage required varies by size, ranging from approximately 817 yards for the smallest size (XS) to 1,058 yards for the largest size (3X). The pattern is worked at a gauge of 23 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, which should be verified before beginning to ensure proper fit. Knitters will need appropriate needles sized to achieve this gauge with their chosen DK weight yarn.

Pattern Format

The Abbi Light is available as a downloadable PDF pattern, allowing knitters to access the complete instructions digitally and print them as needed for reference during the knitting process.