"Livia Adult Cardigan" - Cardigan Knitting Pattern For Women in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino

Livia Adult Cardigan Knitting Pattern by MillaMia

The Livia Adult Cardigan is a sophisticated, seamed women's cardigan knitting pattern from MillaMia, worked in the brand's luxurious Naturally Soft Merino yarn. Designed for improving and experienced knitters, this pattern delivers a beautifully structured, cable-enriched cardigan that is as rewarding to knit as it is to wear. The finished garment has a snug, narrow fit — the pattern itself suggests sizing up if you prefer a looser silhouette — making it an elegant, close-fitting layer ideal for cooler seasons.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a women's button-front cardigan featuring prominent cable detailing throughout. It is available in four sizes, designed to fit bust measurements of 82–87 cm, 92–97 cm, 102–107 cm, and 112–117 cm (32–34 in to 44–46 in), with actual garment bust measurements ranging from 90 cm to 122 cm (35½ in to 48 in). The length to shoulder ranges from approximately 75.5 cm to 80 cm (29¾ in to 31½ in), and the sleeve length is a consistent 40 cm (15¾ in) across all sizes. The cardigan is fastened with 7 buttons, each approximately 20 mm (¾ in) in diameter, adding a classic, polished finish.

MillaMia also notes that a matching child's version of this design and a coordinating hat are available, making the Livia an excellent choice for those who enjoy knitting coordinated family sets.

Techniques Used

The Livia Adult Cardigan employs a range of techniques suited to an advanced or improving experienced knitter. Understanding each technique will help you plan your project and build the skills needed to achieve the best results.

• Bottom-up construction: The cardigan is worked from the cast-on hem upward toward the shoulders, a traditional approach that gives the knitter excellent control over length adjustments before shaping begins.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted flat on straight needles, meaning you work back and forth in rows rather than in the round. This is the classic method for seamed garments and produces neat, stable fabric edges for seaming.
• Seamed finishing: The individual pieces — fronts, back, and sleeves — are knitted separately and then joined together using seaming techniques. Seamed construction gives the finished cardigan structure and durability, and helps cables retain their crisp definition.
• Cable knitting: Cables are a central design feature of the Livia. The pattern uses a C6B (Cable 6 Back) technique, which involves slipping 3 stitches onto a cable needle and holding them at the back of the work, knitting the next 3 stitches, and then knitting the 3 stitches from the cable needle. This creates the characteristic twisted rope effect. MillaMia specifically recommends warmer and paler colourways to best showcase cable texture.
• Buttonhole construction: The pattern includes worked buttonholes to accommodate the 7 buttons, a detail that requires precision and neat execution for a professional finish.
• Shaping techniques: The pattern uses a variety of decrease and increase methods to shape the garment, including k2tog (knit two together), skpo (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over), sl2, k2tog, p2sso (a double decrease removing three stitches), and m1 (make one, by picking up the loop before the next stitch and knitting into the back of it).

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (st st): The primary background fabric, created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows. The tension/gauge for this pattern is set over stocking stitch.
• Garter stitch (g-st): Produced by knitting every row, garter stitch is typically used for borders, hems, or edging details to create a neat, non-curling finish.
• Cable stitch — C6B: A six-