Postgrad

Postgrad Cardigan by Alicia Plummer

Project Overview

Postgrad is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by independent designer Alicia Plummer. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for creating a sophisticated, wearable cardigan using classic knitting techniques and worsted-weight yarn. The design features a structured silhouette with raglan shaping and multiple size options to accommodate various measurements.

What Is Being Made

The Postgrad cardigan is a top-down knitted sweater constructed as a single garment. The pattern includes a body worked in stockinette stitch with strategic increases for shaping, and a two-color design utilizing both a main color and a contrasting color. The finished cardigan offers six size options with varying finished dimensions, making it suitable for different body types and fit preferences.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Top-Down Construction: The cardigan is worked from the top down, beginning with a cast-on at the neckline and progressing downward to the hem, allowing for easy fitting adjustments during the knitting process.
• Raglan Shaping: The pattern employs raglan increases to create the characteristic diagonal lines from the armholes to the neckline, providing a flattering, tailored fit.
• Stockinette Stitch: The primary fabric is worked in stockinette stitch, creating a smooth, classic appearance with a V-knit texture on the right side.
• Increases for Shaping: Strategic increases are worked every 20th row, with specific increase rows that incorporate make-one stitches (m1r and m1l) positioned before and after stitch markers to maintain pattern symmetry and create the raglan shaping.
• Stitch Markers: The pattern uses stitch markers to track key shaping points and maintain consistency throughout the construction.
• Long-Tail Cast-On: The initial cast-on uses the long-tail method, a foundational knitting technique that creates a flexible, professional-looking edge.

Stitches and Stitch Details

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The foundation stitch for the body, created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, producing the classic smooth fabric texture.
• Make-One Right (m1r): An invisible increase worked by lifting the horizontal strand between stitches from left to right and knitting through the back loop, creating a right-leaning increase.
• Make-One Left (m1l): An invisible increase worked by lifting the horizontal strand between stitches from right to left and knitting through the front loop, creating a left-leaning increase.
• Purl Stitches (p): Used in setup rows and edge stitches to create definition and structure at the cardigan's edges.
• Knit Stitches (k): The primary stitch forming the stockinette fabric throughout the body.

Materials Required

Yarn: The pattern calls for Malabrigo Yarn Rios in worsted weight. Two colorways are used: Night (main color/MC) and Sandbank (contrasting color/CC1). The yardage requirements vary by size, with the smallest size requiring 5 skeins of main color and 1 skein of contrasting color, scaling up to 9 skeins of main color and 2 skeins of contrasting color for the largest size.

Needles: The pattern requires both circular needles and double-pointed needles (DPNs) in two sizes. US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles are used for the main fabric construction in stockinette stitch, while US size 6 (4 mm) needles are used for ribbed sections or areas requiring a tighter gauge.

Additional Tools: A darning needle is essential for weaving in yarn ends after completing the cardigan. Six stitch markers help track shaping points and pattern repeats throughout construction.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 24 rows over a 4-inch (10 cm) square when worked in stockinette stitch on US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles. Achieving the correct gauge is critical for obtaining the intended finished dimensions. The pattern provides six size options with finished stitch counts ranging from 112 stitches for the smallest size to 194 stitches for the largest size, accommodating a