Bellevue Cardigan - fingering weight

Bellevue Cardigan - Fingering Weight by Laura Chau

What is Being Made

The Bellevue Cardigan is a summery, slightly cropped cardigan designed by Laura Chau and worked in fingering weight yarn. This versatile layering piece features a fun lace edging and is intended to be worn open, though buttons or ties can be added for closure. The cardigan serves as an elegant topper for short-sleeved or sleeveless dresses, making it perfect for transitioning into cooler seasons, air-conditioned spaces, and autumn evenings. The design is available in nine sizes, ranging from 32.5" to 57" finished bust measurements (82.5cm to 145cm).

Construction and Design Features

The Bellevue Cardigan is worked from the bottom up, offering two distinct sleeve options to suit different preferences and occasions. The cap sleeve version is constructed completely seamless, providing a smooth, professional finish throughout. The short sleeve version requires minimal seaming, making it an accessible option for knitters who prefer straightforward construction. Despite being worked in fingering weight yarn—a thinner yarn than typical cardigan patterns—the garment works up surprisingly quickly, making it an efficient project for advanced knitters. The design showcases negative ease construction, with the shown sample featuring 0.5" (1.25cm) of negative ease for a fitted silhouette that swings back when worn, even though the fronts touch when the cardigan is worn open.

Stitches and Techniques

The Bellevue Cardigan incorporates lace edging as a key design element, adding visual interest and a delicate, summery aesthetic to the finished piece. The seamless cap sleeve version demonstrates advanced knitting techniques, requiring proficiency in seamless garment construction and shaping. The minimal seaming required for the short sleeve version reflects thoughtful pattern design that reduces finishing work while maintaining garment integrity.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This pattern is specifically designed for fingering weight yarn, also known as 4-ply weight. Fingering weight is a thin, delicate yarn traditionally used for sock knitting, and the Bellevue Cardigan cleverly repurposes beautiful sock yarns into a wearable garment. The pattern includes a range of finished sizes to accommodate different body measurements, with detailed schematic information provided for accurate sizing. Appropriate needles for fingering weight yarn (typically US 0-3 / 1.5-3.25mm) would be used to achieve proper gauge, though specific needle recommendations should be verified in the complete pattern.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an advanced knitting project, the Bellevue Cardigan is best suited for experienced knitters comfortable with seamless garment construction, lace techniques, and garment shaping. The fingering weight yarn adds an additional layer of complexity, as working with thinner yarn requires greater attention to tension and stitch definition.