Cardigan in Adriafil New Zealand - Downloadable PDF

Knitted Cardigan Pattern in Adriafil New Zealand – Free Downloadable PDF

This pattern from Adriafil's Dritto & Rovescio hand knitting magazine collection provides instructions for knitting a cardigan using Adriafil New Zealand yarn. Available as a free downloadable PDF, this pattern is suitable for knitters who enjoy working with premium aran-weight yarn and want to create a classic, structured knitwear garment. The instructions are presented with a detailed list of symbols and technique guidance to help knitters achieve the best possible results.

About the Yarn: Adriafil New Zealand

The cardigan is designed specifically for Adriafil New Zealand, an aran weight yarn from the Italian brand Adriafil. As the name suggests, this yarn is associated with New Zealand wool characteristics, known for its warmth, stitch definition, and durability. Aran weight yarn is a medium-to-heavy weight that works up relatively quickly and is ideal for structured garments such as cardigans, where stitch patterns need to be clearly defined and the finished fabric needs to hold its shape well.

The PDF includes an important note regarding working with fantasy and multicoloured yarns: Adriafil recommends using two balls of yarn simultaneously when working with such variants, alternating between them to ensure even colour distribution and the best visual results across the finished fabric. This is a standard professional technique used to avoid pooling or uneven colour striping that can occur when working from a single ball of variegated or multicoloured yarn.

Garment: The Knitted Cardigan

The primary project in this pattern is a knitted cardigan, a versatile and enduringly popular garment in hand knitting. Cardigans are open-front sweaters typically featuring button or zip fastenings, and they are a staple of both classic and contemporary knitwear design. This pattern, produced under the Adriafil Dritto & Rovescio magazine series, reflects Adriafil's tradition of producing stylish, wearable Italian-designed knitwear patterns.

Techniques Used

• Hand knitting – the entire garment is constructed using standard hand knitting methods, worked with knitting needles appropriate for aran weight yarn
• Two-ball working technique – recommended when using fantasy or multicoloured versions of Adriafil New Zealand to ensure even colour distribution throughout the cardigan
• Decreasing – the pattern makes use of decrease techniques including knit 2 together and pass slipped stitch over methods for shaping
• Slipped stitch techniques – including slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (used for left-leaning decreases) and slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (a double decrease used for more pronounced shaping)
• Yarn overs – used to create deliberate increases or decorative eyelets within the fabric

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (dritto) – the foundational stitch of the fabric, worked in the standard manner through the front loop
• Purl stitch (rovescio) – used in combination with knit stitches to build texture and structure in the cardigan fabric
• Knit through the back loop – a twisted knit stitch that creates a tighter, more defined stitch, often used for ribbing or textural contrast
• Right diagonal decrease – a shaping stitch used to angle fabric edges, typically at armholes, necklines, or front bands
• Slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over – a single left-leaning decrease for neat, directional shaping
• Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over – a centred double decrease used for more dramatic shaping points
• Yarn over / yarn forward – used to add stitches or create lace-effect details within the pattern

Materials Required

• Yarn: Adriafil New Zealand in aran weight – the specific quantity