Ariana Cardigan in Ella Rae Classic Heathers - E18-05 - Downloadable PDF

Ariana Cardigan in Ella Rae Classic Heathers – Pattern E18-05

The Ariana Cardigan is a beautifully structured knitted cardigan designed for older children and teens, available in three sizes covering ages 11–12, 13–14, and 15–16 years, with corresponding bust measurements of 80cm, 85cm, and 90cm. Published as a downloadable PDF by Ella Rae, this pattern combines classic cable detailing with ribbing to create a polished, wearable garment that bridges the gap between children's knitwear and sophisticated adult styling.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a fitted cardigan worked in a combination of cable panels and rib fabric. The design features 2 buttons for closure, giving it a neat, tailored front opening. The cardigan is sized generously across three youth-to-teen sizes, making it a versatile knit suitable for transitional seasons. The structured cable pattern adds texture and visual interest, while the ribbed sections provide stretch and a flattering fit through the body.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Ella Rae Classic Heathers, shade #101 — a worsted weight yarn. Quantities required are 500g for size 11–12, 600g for size 13–14, and 700g for size 15–16.
• Needles: 1 pair of 4.5mm / US 7 straight needles
• Cable needle: 1 cable needle for working the cable stitches
• Notions: 2 buttons for the front closure

Ella Rae Classic Heathers is a worsted weight yarn well suited to structured stitch patterns. Its heathered colorway in shade #101 adds subtle tonal depth to both the cable and rib textures, enhancing the visual complexity of the finished cardigan without overwhelming the stitch definition.

Tension / Gauge

• Cable Pattern: 29 stitches and 26 rows over 10cm / 4in using 4.5mm needles
• Rib: 24 stitches and 24 rows over 10cm / 4in using 4.5mm needles

Achieving the correct gauge is especially important in this pattern because both the cable panel and the rib sections are used structurally across the garment. Knitters are encouraged to swatch in both stitch patterns before casting on, as the differing stitch counts per 10cm reflect how much the rib pulls in compared to the cable fabric.

Techniques Used

The Ariana Cardigan draws on a range of knitting techniques appropriate for intermediate knitters who are comfortable moving beyond basic stockinette. Key techniques include:

• Cable knitting using a cable needle — specifically C4F (Cable 4 Front) and C4B (Cable 4 Back), which involve slipping 2 stitches onto a cable needle held at the front or back of the work, knitting the next 2 stitches from the left-hand needle, and then knitting the held stitches. This creates the classic twisted rope cable effect.
• Ribbing — used for structure and elasticity in sections of the cardigan, contributing to the fitted silhouette
• Shaping through standard knitting decreases and increases, including k2tog (knit two together), ssk (slip, slip, knit), p2tog (purl two together), and psso (pass slipped stitch over)
• Working stitches tbl (through the back loop) where specified for twisted or tightened stitch effects
• Buttonhole construction for the 2-button front closure

Stitches Used

• Cable Pattern — the primary decorative stitch, built from C4F and C4B cable crossings worked over