Eyelet and Texture Cardigan

Eyelet and Texture Cardigan by Sian Brown

What is Being Made

The Eyelet and Texture Cardigan is a knitted cardigan designed by Sian Brown as a downloadable PDF pattern. This garment features decorative eyelet detailing combined with textured slip stitch patterning, creating visual interest across the body. The cardigan is constructed to fit bust measurements ranging from 81cm to 117cm (32 to 46 inches), with corresponding length adjustments from 58cm to 65cm at the shoulder. The design includes a full button front closure with 10 buttons and long sleeves measuring 46cm (18 inches) in length.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs two primary stitch pattern techniques that work together to create the cardigan's distinctive aesthetic. The eyelet pattern creates small decorative openings throughout the fabric using yarn overs and decreases, producing a delicate, lacy appearance. The slip stitch pattern adds textural dimension by incorporating slipped stitches worked with the yarn positioned in front or behind the needle, creating subtle visual and tactile variation. Both patterns are worked over 8-row repeats, allowing for consistent, rhythmic knitting once the pattern sequence is established. The combination of these techniques requires intermediate knitting skills, as managing yarn overs, decreases, and slip stitches simultaneously demands attention to stitch placement and tension control.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (st st) – the foundational stitch used to establish tension and form the base fabric
• Yarn over (yo) – creates the eyelet openings characteristic of the lacy pattern sections
• Purl two together (p2tog) – a decrease used in the eyelet pattern to balance yarn overs and maintain stitch count
• Purl through back loop (p1tbl) – adds textural variation in the eyelet pattern rows
• Slip stitch purlwise (sl1pw) – used in the slip stitch pattern with yarn positioned in front (wyif) or behind (wyi) the needle to create texture
• Knit and purl stitches – form the foundation rows between pattern repeats

Materials

The Eyelet and Texture Cardigan is designed to be knitted using Rowan Denim Revive yarn, a cotton-blend fiber composed of 95% cotton and 5% other fibers. This yarn is supplied in 50-gram balls, each containing 100 meters of yardage, making it a true DK (double knitting) weight yarn. The pattern requires 10 to 17 balls of yarn depending on the size being knitted, with the smallest size (to fit 81cm bust) requiring 10 balls and the largest size (to fit 117cm bust) requiring 17 balls. The recommended yarn color for this project is Bluewash (shade 211), a soft blue tone that complements the eyelet and texture detailing. Knitting is worked on two pairs of needles: 3.25mm and 4mm, with the 4mm needles used for the main fabric to achieve the specified tension of 22 stitches and 28 rows over a 10cm square in stockinette stitch. The pattern also calls for 10 buttons for the front closure, allowing for evenly spaced button bands down the cardigan front.