Rainbow Path

Rainbow Path Cardigan by Amanda Hester Smith

Project Overview

Rainbow Path is a versatile and beginner-friendly knit cardigan designed by Amanda Hester Smith. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a simply constructed yet visually striking garment that combines basic knitting techniques with decorative duplicate stitch embellishment. The cardigan serves as a sweet, handmade addition to any wardrobe and is suitable for knitters new to garment construction.

What Is Being Made

Rainbow Path is a knit cardigan available in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. The crossback measurement ranges from 15 inches (38 cm) for size Small to 17 inches (43 cm) for size Large. The pattern uses a straightforward construction method that begins with casting on stitches for the front piece, making this an accessible project for beginners seeking to complete a wearable garment.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques that build core skills while creating professional-looking results. The techniques include:

• Cast on: Foundation method for creating the initial stitches
• Knit and purl stitches: Basic stitch types that form the fabric base
• Slip stitches: Used to create texture and structure within the garment
• Pick up stitches: Essential technique for adding new stitches along finished edges
• Mattress stitch: Seaming method that creates invisible, professional-looking joins
• Bind off: Finishing technique that secures the final row of stitches
• Duplicate stitch: A decorative embellishment technique worked over completed knit fabric, allowing for colorwork without the complexity of traditional stranded knitting

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

Rainbow Path utilizes basic knit and purl stitches as its foundation. The pattern incorporates slip stitches to create visual interest and texture. The standout feature is the use of duplicate stitch, which allows the knitter to add colorwork embellishment after the main garment is complete. This technique eliminates the need for managing multiple yarn colors simultaneously during knitting, making it ideal for beginners. The duplicate stitch is worked using contrasting colors to create the rainbow effect that gives the cardigan its name.

Yarn and Materials

The Rainbow Path pattern calls for two distinct yarns in sport and worsted weights, allowing for beautiful color variation and texture contrast.

Main Color (MC): Quince & Co. Tern in the colorway Magnolia is used for the base garment. This yarn is composed of 75% wool and 25% silk, providing a luxurious blend that combines the warmth of wool with the subtle sheen and drape of silk. Tern yields 221 yards (202 meters) per 50-gram skein. The pattern requires 3 skeins for sizes Small and Medium, and 4 skeins for size Large.

Contrast Colors (CC): Quince & Co. Lark, a 100% wool yarn, is used for the duplicate stitch embellishment. Lark produces 134 yards (123 meters) per 50-gram skein. The pattern features six contrast colors—Lupine, River, Goldfinch, Fjord, Fox, and Rosa—each requiring less than one skein, making this an excellent project for using yarn scraps or small quantities of premium yarn.

Needles and Notions: The pattern is worked on US 8 (5 mm) circular needles measuring 24 inches (60 cm), which accommodate the width of the cardigan front. The recommended gauge is 10 stitches and 15.5 rows over 2 inches (5 cm) of stockinette stitch. Additional notions include removable stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and working the duplicate stitch embellishment.

Difficulty Level

Rainbow Path is rated as a beginner-level pattern, making it an excellent choice for knitters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to tackle their first cardigan. The straightforward construction, combined with the post-knitting duplicate stitch technique, allows beginners to create a sophisticated-looking garment without the complexity of advanced shaping or colorwork methods.