Elsie Cardigan in Ella Rae Lace Merino - ER18-02 - Downloadable PDF

Elsie Cardigan in Ella Rae Lace Merino – Pattern Summary (ER18-02)

The Elsie Cardigan is a beautifully structured, colour-blocked knitted cardigan designed to be worked in Ella Rae Lace Merino, a hand-dyed 4-ply weight yarn celebrated for its rich, nuanced tones and luxurious merino fibre content. This downloadable PDF pattern (reference ER18-02) produces a classic, feminine cardigan featuring a neat ribbed band, smooth stockinette body, shaped armholes, front neck shaping, and a delicate button band finished with five small buttons. The design is offered in four sizes to suit a range of figures.

Sizes and Measurements

• XS – 81 cm / 32 in bust
• S – 86 cm / 34 in bust
• M – 91 cm / 36 in bust
• L – 96 cm / 38 in bust

Materials Required

The Elsie Cardigan is knitted in Ella Rae Lace Merino, a 4-ply weight yarn, used in three carefully chosen shades to create its signature colour-blocked effect:

• Shade #58 (Colour A) – 100 g for XS; 200 g for S, M, and L
• Shade #62 (Colour B) – 100 g for all sizes
• Shade #216 (Colour C) – 100 g for XS, S, and M; 200 g for L

Because Ella Rae Lace Merino is a hand-dyed yarn, each hank carries its own unique character and subtle colour variation. The pattern specifically advises knitters to work from two hanks at a time, alternating between them to blend any tonal differences and ensure a consistent, even finish across the garment.

In addition to yarn, you will need:

• One pair of 3 mm (US 2–3) knitting needles for the ribbed band
• One pair of 3.25 mm (US 3) knitting needles for the main body
• 5 small buttons for the front band

Tension / Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is essential for a well-fitting cardigan. The pattern requires 29 stitches and 37 rows over 10 cm / 4 inches of Stockinette stitch using 3.25 mm needles. Knitters are encouraged to swatch carefully before beginning, as the fine 4-ply weight of Ella Rae Lace Merino rewards precision.

Construction and Structure

The Elsie Cardigan is worked in separate flat pieces — back, fronts, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. Construction begins with a ribbed welt worked on the smaller 3 mm needles, providing a neat, elasticated edge that holds its shape beautifully. The body then transitions to the larger 3.25 mm needles for the main Stockinette fabric, with colour changes introduced at specific length measurements to create the cardigan's distinctive colour-blocked stripe effect.

The colour sequence progresses through Colour A, then Colour B, and finally Colour C, with each section worked to a precise measurement before the next colour is introduced. This structured approach to colour blocking gives the Elsie Cardigan a modern, graphic quality while remaining straightforward to execute.

Shaping Techniques

The pattern incorporates several shaping techniques that give the Elsie Cardigan its polished, tailored silhouette:

• Armhole shaping – Stitches are cast off at the beginning of right-side rows to create clean, structured armhole openings sized appropriately for each garment size.
• Front neck shaping – Gradual decreases are worked at the neck edge on both wrong-side and right-side rows, using p2togt