Saoirse Cropped Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

Saoirse Cropped Cardigan Knitting Pattern by Debbie Bliss

The Saoirse Cropped Cardigan is a stylish women's knitting pattern designed by Debbie Bliss, worked in her beloved Baby Cashmerino yarn. This cropped cardigan is crafted in a classic, flattering silhouette and is sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements, from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) up to 142–147 cm (56–58 in), making it an inclusive and versatile design. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing knitters to get started right away.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a cropped cardigan for women, featuring a neat, contemporary length that sits above the hip. It is a button-front design fastened with 3 buttons, each measuring 3 cm (1¼ in), giving it a polished, finished look. The cropped length makes it ideal for layering over dresses, high-waisted trousers, or skirts, and the design is well-suited to both casual and smart-casual occasions. The cardigan is knitted flat in separate pieces and seamed together, a traditional construction method that produces a structured, professional result.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, a luxurious sport weight yarn that blends the softness of merino wool with the warmth and sheen of cashmere. This yarn is renowned for its exceptionally soft handle, making it a pleasure to knit with and comfortable to wear against the skin. The colourway specified in this pattern is Mustard 316, a warm, golden-yellow shade that gives the cardigan a rich, autumnal feel.

• Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 50g/1¾oz balls
• Colour: Mustard 316
• Quantity: 10 (11:12:13:14:16:17) balls depending on size
• Needles: A pair of 3mm (US 2-3) knitting needles and a pair of 3.25mm (US 3) knitting needles
• Notions: Stitch holders and 3 x 3cm (1¼in) buttons

The smaller 3mm needles are typically used for ribbing and edging sections to create a neat, firm border, while the larger 3.25mm needles are used for the main body of the cardigan worked in stocking stitch.

Tension and Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is essential for this pattern. The stated tension is 25 stitches and 34 rows to 10 cm (4 in) square over stocking stitch using 3.25mm (US 3) needles. Knitters are strongly encouraged to work a tension swatch before beginning, as even a small difference in gauge can significantly affect the finished dimensions of the garment, particularly across the chest and in the cropped length.

Techniques Used

The Saoirse Cropped Cardigan is rated as an intermediate level pattern, making it well-suited to knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to develop their skills further. The construction involves knitting the garment in separate flat pieces — typically a back, two fronts, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. This flat knitting approach is a classic method that gives knitters full control over shaping and finishing.

• Flat knitting on straight needles throughout
• Seaming to join the finished pieces together
• Shaping using increases and decreases for armholes, neckline, and sleeve caps
• Stitch holder usage to hold live stitches while working other sections
• Button band and buttonhole construction for the front opening

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a focused selection of stitches and techniques that are clearly defined within the abbreviations section of the PDF:

• Stocking stitch (st st) —