Coachella Cardigan

Coachella Cardigan by Jutta Maria Guerth

What is Being Made

The Coachella Cardigan is a knitted button-front cardigan designed by Jutta Maria Guerth. This intermediate-level project creates a finished garment suitable for size M/L, featuring decorative crochet flower embellishments and a structured fit with waist shaping.

Knitting Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several intermediate knitting techniques to create visual interest and structure:

• Chart-based knitting: The pattern uses a charted design that is worked from the right side, with instructions for wrong-side rows worked as stitches appear
• Yarn overs: Decorative yarn overs are incorporated throughout the pattern to create openwork details
• Decreases: Slip-slip-knit (ssk) and knit-two-together (k2tog) decreases are used for waist shaping and pattern definition
• Waist shaping: Strategic bind-offs create fitted waist details after the initial 60 rows of pattern work

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Coachella Cardigan utilizes fundamental and decorative stitches:

• Knit stitch: The foundation stitch used for the body construction
• Purl stitch: Used on wrong-side rows to maintain pattern integrity
• Yarn overs: Creates decorative holes and lace-like elements within the charted pattern
• Slip-slip-knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used for shaping
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease for pattern and fit
• Crochet single crochet and double crochet: Used to construct the decorative crochet flowers that embellish the finished cardigan
• Crochet chain and slip stitch: Foundation and joining techniques for the flower elements

Materials and Tools

For the size M/L, the Coachella Cardigan requires:

• Yarn: 450 grams of cotton yarn with a yardage of 105 meters per 50 grams (approximately 115 yards per 50 grams). The yarn weight is DK (double knit), making it suitable for drape and breathability
• Knitting needles: Size 4.5 (US 7) for the main cardigan body
• Crochet hook: Size 3.5 (E/4) for creating the decorative crochet flowers
• Notions: 5 buttons for the front closure, 2 cord stoppers, a tapestry needle for finishing and weaving in ends
• Gauge: 15 stitches and 27 rows over a 10 x 10 centimeter (4" x 4") swatch in stockinette stitch

Pattern Structure

The back of the cardigan begins with casting on 76 stitches and working one row in knit stitch before following the charted pattern. The chart shows only right-side rows, with wrong-side rows worked by knitting stitches as they appear and purling yarn overs. The pattern repeats rows 1 through 4 continuously for 60 rows total, creating 15 height repeats of the design. After this section, waist shaping begins with strategic bind-offs to create the fitted silhouette characteristic of the Coachella Cardigan design.