Cafuné

Cafuné Cardigan by Meiju Kallio

What is Being Made

Cafuné is a top-down cardigan designed by Meiju Kallio, featuring an elegant large collar and worked in a circular construction method. The garment's name draws inspiration from the Portuguese word "cafuné," which refers to the intimate gesture of running one's fingers through someone's hair. This conceptual foundation directly influences the cardigan's aesthetic, with the cable pattern designed to evoke that flowing, undulating sensation through its reversible texture and movement.

Design Features and Construction

This advanced-level knitting project employs a top-down circular construction, a technique that allows knitters to work from the neckline outward, making it easier to achieve proper fit and adjust length as needed. The cardigan showcases a completely reversible cable pattern, offering exceptional versatility in styling—the wearer can display either side of the fabric depending on their preference or outfit coordination needs. This reversibility adds significant design value, as both the front and back of the cable work are equally beautiful and intentional.

Stitches and Techniques

The primary stitch structure centers on cable knitting, a technique requiring knitters to cross groups of stitches over one another to create raised, textured patterns. The undulating cable design captures the flowing, finger-through-hair inspiration through careful stitch manipulation and strategic cable crossings. Working cables in the round while maintaining a reversible pattern requires advanced knitting skills, including understanding of stitch placement, tension control, and pattern reading. The top-down construction combined with circular knitting in sport weight yarn demands precision and experience.

Materials

Cafuné is designed to showcase sport weight yarn, a thinner yarn category that enhances the intricate beauty of the cable pattern through its refined texture and drape. The designer specifically recommends selecting the most luxurious yarn available in this weight, as the delicate fiber diameter allows the cable details to display with exquisite clarity and sophistication. Sport weight yarn typically requires needles in the US 1–3 range, though specific needle size recommendations appear in the complete pattern. The thinner yarn weight contributes to a more elegant, refined finished garment compared to heavier yarn alternatives.

Sizing and Fit

The pattern provides multiple size options across a range of finished measurements, with armhole depths ranging from 6.75 inches through 15.5 inches, accommodating diverse body types and fit preferences. The inclusion of two largest sizes in version 2.0 ensures extended size range availability for knitters seeking larger finished garments.

Pattern Information

This is a downloadable PDF pattern created by independent designer Meiju Kallio. The pattern represents version 2.0, updated with a new pattern template and clarifications to improve knitter experience. Pattern copyright is held by Meiju Kallio for 2016 and 2024. The pattern is intended for personal use only. For pattern support and questions, knitters can contact meijuknits@gmail.com or follow the designer on Instagram @meijuknits for additional inspiration and community engagement.