Julie & Leila Cardigans in Patons Fab DK - PBN0000-05356 - Downloadable PDF

Julie & Leila Cardigans in Patons Fab DK – Free Knitting Pattern PBN0000-05356

This free downloadable PDF from Patons contains two complete knitting patterns — the Julie Cardigan and the Leila Cardigan — both designed to be knitted in Patons Fab DK yarn. Published in 2018 by MEZ Crafts UK Ltd., this pattern set offers a pair of classically styled women's cardigans at an intermediate difficulty level, making them ideal for confident knitters who are comfortable working with shaping, stitch patterns, and garment construction techniques.

Julie Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Julie Cardigan is a women's knitted cardigan designed to fit a range of bust sizes. The pattern provides instructions across five size options, covering bust measurements from 81–86 cm (32–34 in) through to 122–127 cm (48–50 in), with actual garment bust measurements ranging from 97 cm (38 in) up to 137 cm (54 in), offering a comfortable, relaxed fit across all sizes.

Construction and Shaping Techniques

The Julie Cardigan is worked in separate pieces — back, fronts, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. The pattern includes detailed back neck shaping, worked by dividing stitches and working each side of the neck separately. Right back neck shaping involves decreasing one stitch at the neck edge over several rows, and right shoulder shaping is achieved through a series of cast-off rows worked at the beginning of right-side and wrong-side rows alternately. This stepped shoulder shaping is a classic technique that creates a neat, structured shoulder line.

• Back neck divide: Stitches are split at the back neck, with one set placed on a holder while the other side is worked separately — a standard technique for achieving a clean, fitted neckline.
• Neck decreases: Single decreases worked over consecutive rows shape the curve of the back neck.
• Shoulder cast-offs: Worked in stages across alternate rows to create a sloped, tailored shoulder.
• Stitch holders: Used to keep live stitches in reserve while shaping is completed on the opposite side.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Julie Cardigan is worked using a stitch pattern (referred to as "patt" throughout), which is maintained consistently across shaping rows — a key skill at the intermediate level, as knitters must continue the established pattern while simultaneously working increases or decreases. The pattern references both right-side (RS) and wrong-side (WS) rows, indicating a textured or structured stitch pattern rather than plain stocking stitch alone.

Yarn and Materials

The specified yarn is Patons Fab DK, a DK (double knitting) weight yarn sold in 100 gram balls. The pattern requires between 6 and 9 balls depending on the size being knitted, with larger sizes naturally requiring more yarn. Patons Fab DK is a popular, widely available yarn known for its smooth finish and broad colour range, making it well suited to garment knitting. As a DK weight yarn, it works up at a standard DK tension and is typically knitted on 4 mm needles, though knitters should always check tension before beginning.

Leila Cardigan

What Is Being Made

The Leila Cardigan is the second design included in this pattern PDF, also intended for women and knitted in Patons Fab DK. Like the Julie, the Leila is a knitted cardigan pattern pitched at an intermediate skill level, offering a distinct design alongside its companion piece within the same downloadable file.

Construction and Techniques

As with the Julie Cardigan, the Leila is constructed using traditional flat knitting techniques, working the garment in individual panels before seaming. Intermediate-level skills such as armhole shaping, neck shaping, and shoulder shaping are central to both designs. Knitters working through this pattern set will practise maintaining stitch patterns through shaping rows — an essential technique for producing professional-looking kni