Mt. Auburn Cardigan

Mt. Auburn Cardigan by Irina Anikeeva

What is Being Made

The Mt. Auburn Cardigan is a men's knitted cardigan available in five sizes ranging from Small to 2XL, with finished chest circumferences from 35¾" to 51¼" (89.5 to 128 cm). This garment is designed as a button-front cardigan with a structured fit and moderate positive ease, making it suitable for layering and everyday wear.

Construction Techniques

The Mt. Auburn Cardigan employs a strategic construction method that combines different knitting techniques for efficiency and fit:

• One-Piece Body: The body is worked in one continuous piece from the lower edge up to the underarm, eliminating side seams and creating a seamless foundation.
• Divided Front and Back: Once the body reaches the underarm, it is divided to allow the front panels and back to be worked separately, enabling precise shaping for armholes and neckline.
• Circular Needle Construction: A circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches required for the body, even though the work is primarily flat rather than in the round.
• Sleeve Cap Shaping: The sleeves are primarily worked in the round for efficiency, but the sleeve cap is worked flat to achieve proper cap shaping and fit at the shoulder.
• Charted Pattern Work: The design includes a Sleeve chart that transitions between working in rounds and working back and forth in rows, with specific instructions to work every row as a right-side row when working in the round to maintain pattern consistency.
• Partial Cable Management: During shaping sections where stitches decrease, the pattern includes guidance for working partial cables when there are insufficient stitches to complete a full cable repeat, ensuring visual continuity throughout the garment.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Mt. Auburn Cardigan incorporates cable stitches as a primary design element. The pattern includes detailed charting for cable work, particularly in the sleeve sections. Stockinette stitch serves as the base fabric throughout the garment, providing a smooth, classic background that allows the cable details to stand out prominently.

Materials

The Mt. Auburn Cardigan is designed to be knitted with Harrisville Designs WATERshed, a yarn composed of 100% pure virgin wool. The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn, which provides good stitch definition for cable work and creates a durable, warm fabric suitable for a men's cardigan. A circular needle is required to manage the cast-on and body stitches, with the specific needle size determined by the yarn weight and desired gauge.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic techniques. The intermediate classification reflects the combination of shaping, cable work, and the transition between working in rounds and rows, which requires attention to pattern instructions and stitch management.