Lacy Cardigan - Cardigan Knitting Pattern For Women in The Yarn Collective Rivoli Sport by Harriet Hill

Lacy Cardigan Knitting Pattern for Women by Harriet Hill in The Yarn Collective Rivoli Sport

The Lacy Cardigan is a beautifully crafted women's cardigan knitting pattern designed by Harriet Hill and worked in The Yarn Collective Rivoli Sport yarn. Rated as an advanced knitting project, this design brings together delicate lace patterning and classic cardigan construction to create an elegant, wearable garment suitable for a wide range of bust sizes. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it immediately accessible for knitters ready to take on a sophisticated and rewarding project.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's lacy cardigan — a front-opening knitted jacket featuring lace detailing throughout. The finished garment is designed to fit bust measurements ranging from 81–86 cm up to 122–127 cm (32–34 inches up to 48–50 inches), offered across five sizes. The actual finished chest measurement spans 91 cm to 130 cm (35¾ to 51¼ inches) depending on the size selected, giving a comfortable, relaxed fit across the full size range. The cardigan is fastened with 7 buttons, adding a classic, polished finishing detail.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for The Yarn Collective Rivoli Sport, a sport weight yarn, used in two colourways to create a two-colour design:

• Pink (shade 502) — used as the main colour (MC)
• Yellow (shade 505) — used as the contrast colour (C)

Yardage requirements vary by size, ensuring knitters can plan their yarn purchases accurately before casting on. In addition to yarn, the pattern requires a pair of 3¾mm (US 5) knitting needles, or the needle size needed to achieve the correct tension, as well as 7 buttons for the cardigan's front button band closure.

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is especially important for an advanced project like this one. The pattern specifies a tension of 25 stitches and 30 rows over a 10 cm (4 inch) square, measured over the lace pattern using 3¾mm (US 5) needles. Knitters are encouraged to swatch carefully before beginning, as lace patterns in particular can vary significantly between individuals. Blocking the swatch before measuring is recommended, as lace opens up and relaxes considerably once washed and blocked.

Techniques Used

As an advanced knitting pattern, the Lacy Cardigan employs a range of techniques that will challenge and develop a knitter's skill set. Key techniques referenced in the pattern include:

• Lace knitting — the primary design feature, creating the delicate, open fabric that gives the cardigan its name and character
• Shaping — including decreasing (dec) to shape the body and sleeves for a tailored fit
• Garter stitch (g st) — knitting every row, typically used for borders, button bands, or contrast texture sections
• Alternating rows (alt) — a standard technique used within shaping sequences
• Button band construction — working neat, structured front bands to accommodate the 7-button fastening
• Garment assembly — seaming and finishing the individual knitted pieces into a complete cardigan

Stitches Used

The stitch vocabulary of the Lacy Cardigan includes a combination of foundational and decorative knitting stitches:

• Lace pattern stitches — yarn overs and decreases worked in sequence to form the signature lacy, openwork fabric panels
• Garter stitch — all knit rows, producing a ridged, non-curling fabric often used for edgings and borders
• Decrease stitches — used throughout for shaping the garment's silhouette

About the Design and Craft

L