Carma

Carma Lace Cardigan by Corrine Walcher

Garment Overview

Carma is a crew-neck, hip-length lace cardigan featuring short sleeves and a decorative lace insert. This intermediate-level knitting project is designed as a versatile layering piece, perfect for wearing over a summer sundress or camisole top. The cardigan comes in six sizes, with finished chest measurements ranging from 32.5 inches to 52.5 inches to fit bust sizes 32 to 52 inches.

Design Details and Sizing

The garment features a hip-length construction with the following measurements:

• Finished chest circumference: 32.5(35.7, 40.5, 43.8, 48.5, 52.5) inches
• Sleeve circumference: 12(13, 14, 15, 16.5, 18) inches
• Length from cast-on edge to underarm: 13(13, 13.5, 15, 15.5, 16) inches
• Total length from cast-on edge to shoulder seam: 21.5(21.5, 23, 25, 26, 27) inches

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Carma employs lace knitting as its primary decorative technique, with a lace insert incorporated into the cardigan's design. The garment is worked flat in stockinette stitch as the foundation fabric, which provides a smooth, classic base that allows the lace patterning to stand out. The combination of solid stockinette sections with openwork lace creates visual interest while maintaining the structural integrity needed for a wearable cardigan.

Yarn and Materials

The sample cardigan is knit using Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock, a 100% superwash merino wool yarn. This yarn weight is available in 400-yard skeins, with yardage requirements of 2(2, 3, 3, 4, 5) skeins depending on size selected. The sample shown is worked in the colorway Anacostia. The superwash merino fiber provides durability and easy care, making this an ideal choice for a summer layering piece.

Needles and Gauge

This project requires US size 6/4.00mm circular needles, 32 inches or longer in length (knitters working larger sizes may prefer needles longer than 32 inches for comfortable working). The pattern is worked flat, meaning the circular needle is used in rows rather than in the round. The required gauge is 20 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch, worked flat and blocked. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements.

Additional Notions

Beyond yarn and needles, the project requires stitch markers to help track pattern repeats and shaping points, as well as waste yarn for holding stitches during construction. These standard notions support the intermediate-level construction techniques used throughout the pattern.