À l'aube

À l'aube Cardigan by L Rose

What Is Being Made

À l'aube (meaning "Dawn" in French) is a beginner-friendly cardigan pattern designed by L Rose. This top-down knit cardigan features a simple yoke construction and decorative lace detailing on the front, creating an elegant garment with a romantic aesthetic. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is suitable for knitters new to cardigan construction.

Yarn Composition and Materials

The À l'aube cardigan combines two luxurious sport-weight yarns to achieve a soft, cloud-like fabric:

• Mirasol Sulka Nina Sport (color #7116 blue) – a blend of mohair, baby alpaca, and mulberry silk that provides the primary yarn base with romantic softness and sheen
• Drops Kid Silk Mohair (25g balls) – a delicate mohair and silk blend used as a complementary yarn

Yardage requirements vary by size: Size S requires 900 meters (984 yards) of Mirasol Sulka Nina and 6 balls of Drops Kid Silk; Size M requires 1050 meters (1148 yards) and 7 balls respectively; Size L requires 1350 meters (1476 yards) and 9 balls; Size XL requires 1350–1500 meters (1476–1640 yards) and 9–10 balls.

Needles and Notions

The pattern calls for 4mm circular needles in two sizes: 80–100cm needles for working the body in the round, and small-circumference circular needles or double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the sleeves. Additional supplies include 2 stitch holders, 4 stitch markers, a tapestry needle for finishing, and 7–12 buttons measuring 1.5–2cm in diameter (the size S sample uses 7 buttons).

Knitting Techniques and Construction

À l'aube employs a top-down yoke construction, a popular method for cardigans that allows for easy fit adjustments and seamless integration of sleeve increases. The pattern features a simple yoke worked in the round from the neckline downward, which streamlines the building process for beginners. The cardigan incorporates lace stitch work on the front panels, adding visual interest and an airy quality that complements the delicate yarn blend.

Stitches Used

While the full stitch pattern details are not enumerated in the provided content, the pattern utilizes basic knit stitches combined with lace stitches featuring yarn overs and decreases to create the decorative front panels. The simple yoke structure suggests straightforward increases worked in stockinette stitch, making this pattern accessible to beginners while still delivering sophisticated visual results.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner level pattern, À l'aube is designed to introduce knitters to cardigan construction without overwhelming complexity. The top-down method eliminates the need for seaming, and the simple yoke reduces shaping challenges, making this an ideal project for knitters progressing beyond basic garments.