Hipster Stripe Cardigan

Hipster Stripe Cardigan by Triona Murphy

What is Being Made

The Hipster Stripe Cardigan is a fitted knit cardigan designed by Triona Murphy, available in seven sizes ranging from XS to 3X (finished bust measurements from 28 to 52 inches). This sweater is intentionally designed to be worn with negative ease, meaning it should be sized smaller than your actual bust measurement for the intended fitted silhouette. The sample shown is a size M worn with two inches of negative ease, demonstrating the close, tailored fit characteristic of this design.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to achieve its structured, professional appearance. The cardigan is constructed using circular needles to work the body, with the option to use double-pointed needles or preferred needle types for working the sleeves in the round. The pattern incorporates striping as a central design element, combining two contrasting colors—Black as the main color and White as the contrasting color—to create the distinctive hipster aesthetic. Shaping techniques are used throughout to achieve the fitted silhouette, and the pattern includes standard abbreviations such as knit (k), purl (p), right side (RS), wrong side (WS), stitches (st/sts), place marker (pm), and make one right (m1R).

Stitches Used

The Hipster Stripe Cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches including knit and purl stitches as the primary building blocks. The pattern employs make one right (m1R) increases for shaping, and uses stitch markers to track pattern repeats and construction sections. These core stitches combine to create the striped colorwork pattern that defines the cardigan's visual appeal.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted (100% merino wool; 110 yards/101 meters per 50-gram skein). Yardage requirements vary by size: 3 to 6 skeins in Black for the main color, and 3 to 5 skeins in White for the contrasting color, depending on which size is being knitted.
• Needles: US #6 [4.0 mm] and US #7 [4.5 mm] circular needles, 32 inches or longer for working the body. One set each of US #6 [4.0 mm] and US #7 [4.5 mm] double-pointed needles (or preferred needle type) for working the sleeves in the round.

Yarn Weight and Difficulty Level

This pattern is worked in worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that knits up at a moderate gauge, making it suitable for creating structured, wearable garments. The Hipster Stripe Cardigan is rated as an intermediate difficulty project, making it appropriate for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to tackle projects involving shaping, colorwork, and garment construction.