I Love Hue Longline Cardigan - Free Knitting Pattern in Paintbox Yarns Ombré Aran Wool Touch

I Love Hue Longline Cardigan – Free Knitting Pattern by Paintbox Yarns

The I Love Hue Longline Cardigan is a stunning free knitting pattern designed by Paintbox Yarns that showcases the naturally shifting tones of a gradient yarn in a relaxed, on-trend silhouette. As the name suggests, this pattern is a celebration of colour, letting the yarn do much of the visual work while the knitter builds a beautifully structured, longline cardigan suitable for layering across all seasons. The pattern is rated advanced beginner, making it an ideal next step for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to introduce simple cable techniques into their repertoire.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a longline cardigan — a longer-length, open-front knitted jacket that falls below the hip. The elongated silhouette gives the finished garment a contemporary, relaxed feel, while the ombré yarn creates a gradual colour transition from ball to ball without any complicated colour-changing techniques. The cardigan is worked in multiple sizes, with yarn quantities ranging from 9 to 14 balls depending on the chosen size, making it a versatile pattern for a wide range of body types.

Yarn and Materials

The recommended yarn is Paintbox Yarns Ombré Aran Wool Touch, used in the colourway Ruby Nights. This is a 100g (3½oz) ball weight yarn classified as Aran weight, meaning it knits up at a medium-heavy gauge that works up relatively quickly while still producing a fabric with excellent stitch definition. The Wool Touch in the yarn name indicates a soft, wool-blend composition that provides warmth, drape, and a pleasant hand feel — ideal for a wearable garment intended to be worn close to the body.

The ombré construction of this yarn means that each ball contains a gradual shift in tone, so as you knit through successive balls, the cardigan naturally transitions through a spectrum of related hues within the Ruby Nights colourway. No deliberate colour-joining or striping is required — the gradient effect is built into the yarn itself.

• Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Ombré Aran Wool Touch in Ruby Nights
• Quantity: 9(9:10:11:12:13:14) x 100g balls depending on size
• Needles: US 9 (5.5mm) knitting needles
• Additional tools: Cable needle, scissors, large sewing needle

Gauge and Tension

Achieving the correct gauge is essential for a well-fitting garment. The pattern specifies a tension of 16 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches (10cm) of pattern stitch using US 9 (5.5mm) needles. Knitters are strongly encouraged to work a tension swatch before casting on, as even small variations in gauge can significantly affect the finished dimensions of a longline garment. Paintbox Yarns notes that they cannot accept responsibility for the finished item if any yarn other than the recommended yarn is substituted.

Techniques and Stitches Used

The I Love Hue Longline Cardigan is constructed using a combination of classic knitting stitches and a straightforward cable technique, making it an excellent pattern for knitters looking to develop their skills beyond basic knit-and-purl projects.

Core Stitches

• Stockinette (Stocking) Stitch (st st): The foundational fabric stitch formed by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows. This creates the smooth, classic knitted surface that forms the main body of the cardigan.
• Purl (p): Used within pattern repeats and on wrong-side rows to create the reverse of the knit stitch, contributing to both texture and structure.

Cable Technique

• C2B (Cable 2 Back): A simple cable crossing worked by slipping the next stitch onto a cable needle and holding it at the back of the work, knitting the next stitch from the left needle, and then knitting the held stitch from the cable needle. This creates a neat, right-leaning twist that adds textural interest and visual structure to the