Dunquin Cardigan in Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed Fine - Downloadable PDF

Dunquin Cardigan in Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed Fine by Joan Forgione

About This Pattern

The Dunquin Cardigan is an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Joan Forgione and published by Tahki Stacy Charles Inc. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern produces a classic, elegantly textured cardigan with a refined, tailored silhouette. The design takes its name from the rugged coastal village of Dunquin on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland, a fitting nod to the rustic, heritage character of the tweed yarn used to knit it.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

The pattern is written for six sizes, making it accessible to a wide range of knitters:

• Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, XL, 2X, and 3X
• Bust circumference: 37½ (41¼, 45, 49½, 53½, 57¼) inches / 95 (104.5, 114, 125.5, 136, 145.5) cm
• Length: 21½ (22, 22½, 23, 24½, 25½) inches / 54.5 (55.5, 57, 58.5, 62, 65) cm

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a seamed cardigan worked bottom-up, meaning construction begins at the lower edges of the body and sleeves and progresses upward toward the shoulders. The cardigan features integrated pockets, which are a notable design detail — stitches are placed on spare needles and later picked up to form pocket linings seamlessly within the body of the garment. The combination of Moss stitch panels and Stockinette stitch gives the cardigan both visual interest and a polished, structured finish.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several knitting techniques that make it well-suited to an intermediate knitter looking to expand their skills:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is worked from the cast-on edge upward, a traditional approach that allows easy length adjustments before the armhole shaping begins.
• Seamed construction: Unlike seamless knitting, this cardigan is worked in separate pieces that are later joined. Seaming adds structure and stability to the finished garment, particularly important in a tailored cardigan silhouette.
• Integrated pocket construction: Stitches are held on spare circular needles while pocket openings are formed in the body fabric. Pocket linings are then picked up and worked from the base of the held stitches, creating a clean, professional finish.
• Moss stitch: A classic textured stitch pattern created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a specific sequence. Moss stitch lies flat, resists curling, and adds a beautiful tactile dimension to the fabric — particularly effective when worked in a tweedy yarn.
• Stockinette stitch: The foundational knitting stitch, worked by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, producing a smooth, V-patterned fabric that serves as the primary body fabric of the cardigan.
• Working with stitch markers: The pattern makes use of slip markers (slm) to delineate pattern sections, an important technique for keeping complex stitch patterns and pocket placements accurate.
• Blocking: Gauge is measured after blocking, which is especially important with this yarn blend. Blocking opens up the stitches, evens the fabric, and allows the mohair content to bloom softly.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch — the primary body fabric
• Moss Stitch — used for textured panels, likely at borders and pocket edges

Yarn and Materials

The Dunquin Cardigan is designed specifically for Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed Fine, a beautifully crafted 4-ply weight yarn that captures the authentic character of traditional Irish tweed in a refined, lightweight form. Key yarn details include: