Juno

Juno Cardigan by yellowcosmo

What is Being Made

Juno is a seamless, top-down cardigan featuring an elegant lace and cable design along the yoke. This knitted garment is designed by Connie Peng and offers a refined construction method that allows knitters to work the entire piece from the neckline downward in a single continuous piece. The cardigan includes eight button closures and is available in ten sizes, ranging from 29 inches to 52 inches around the chest on the finished garment. The sample is modeled with 1 inch of positive ease, providing a comfortable, slightly relaxed fit.

Techniques Used

The Juno cardigan employs several advanced knitting techniques that make it suitable for intermediate-level knitters. The top-down construction method begins at the neckline and progresses downward, eliminating the need for seaming and allowing for easy customization of length. Short rows are strategically incorporated into the body below the yoke section, creating shaping and a flattering silhouette. Sleeve stitches are placed on waste yarn at the underarm during the initial yoke construction, then worked separately afterward, allowing for seamless integration. Button bands are created by picking up stitches along the front edges, a technique that ensures neat, professional-looking closures.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches including knit and purl stitches as the foundation. Cable stitches are featured prominently in the yoke design, created using a cable needle to cross stitches over one another and produce the characteristic twisted texture. Lace stitches are also incorporated into the yoke, adding an openwork element that contrasts with the solid stockinette stitch sections. Make 1 increases are used for shaping throughout the garment, a technique that involves lifting the bar between stitches on the right needle to create new stitches without visible holes.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Sport weight yarn is used for this project, with yardage requirements ranging from 950 yards for the smallest size (29 inches) to 1,775 yards for the largest size (52 inches). The sample cardigan was knitted in Malabrigo Dos, a sport weight yarn known for its softness and vibrant color options.

Needles: The pattern requires two sizes of needles to achieve proper gauge and construction. US #3 (3.25 mm) needles are used for ribbing and other sections requiring a tighter gauge, while US #4 (3.5 mm) needles are used for the main body fabric. The larger needles produce the specified gauge of 22 stitches by 30 rows over a 4-inch by 4-inch swatch (10 cm by 10 cm).

Notions: Eight ½-inch buttons are required to complete the cardigan front closure, allowing for secure fastening and a polished finished appearance.

Size Range and Fit

• Available sizes: 29, 32, 34, 37, 39, 43, 45, 48, 50, and 52 inches (finished chest measurement)
• Sample modeled with 1 inch of positive ease for comfortable wear
• Yardage scales proportionally with size to maintain consistent fabric characteristics across the size range