Carlotta Cardigan in Adriafil Snappy Ball - Downloadable PDF

Carlotta Cardigan in Adriafil Snappy Ball

What is Being Made

The Carlotta Cardigan is a classic knitted cardigan designed in size 44, with available adjustments for sizes 42 and 46. This garment features a structured construction with a ribbed border and body worked primarily in stockinette stitch, finished with button closures for a traditional cardigan silhouette.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs fundamental shaping techniques essential to cardigan construction. The pattern incorporates elastic ribbing for the borders, which provides stretch and recovery at the edges. Decreasing is used strategically to shape the garment, with stitches decreased evenly across a row to transition from the ribbed border to the main body. Armhole shaping is achieved through sequential cast-offs at regular intervals, removing stitches in graduated steps (4 stitches, then 3 stitches, then 2 stitches, then 1 stitch) to create a smooth, fitted armhole curve. Shoulder shaping uses repeated cast-offs to form the shoulder line, and the pattern includes finishing techniques such as weaving in ends with a tapestry needle.

Stitches Used

• Elastic Rib (k2/p2): A two-by-two ribbed stitch used for the border and finishing edges, alternating two knit stitches with two purl stitches to create vertical columns that provide elasticity and a polished appearance
• Knit Stitch: The primary stitch used for the main body of the cardigan, worked in stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows) to create a smooth, classic fabric texture

Materials and Specifications

This cardigan requires 400 grams of Adriafil Snappy Ball yarn in brown, color number 87. The yarn weight is 4-ply, suitable for creating a lightweight yet durable fabric. Two sets of knitting needles are required: size 3 needles for working the elastic ribbed borders, and size 4 needles for the main body. The gauge is 24 stitches and 31 rows over 10 centimeters when worked in knit stitch on size 4 needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. Additional materials include 2 matching buttons for closure and a tapestry needle for finishing and weaving in yarn ends.

Pattern Structure

The back piece begins with casting on 146 stitches (134 for size 42, 154 for size 46) using size 3 needles. The border consists of 2 rows of elastic rib followed by 36 rows of k2/p2 rib stitch, totaling 11 centimeters. The work then transitions to size 4 needles and stockinette stitch, with 33 stitches (29 for size 42, 33 for size 46) decreased evenly across the first row. Armhole shaping begins when the piece measures 21 centimeters from the border and involves casting off stitches in a graduated sequence repeated 8 times (7 for size 42, 9 for size 46). Shoulder shaping commences after the armholes measure 20 centimeters, with 4 stitches cast off every 2 rows for 4 repeats.