Savona

Savona Crochet Cardigan by Kristen TenDyke

What Is Being Made

Savona is an advanced crochet cardigan jacket designed by Kristen TenDyke. This garment is worked from the bottom up, creating a structured yet elegant piece. The cardigan features decorative ribbing added around all edges for a finished, professional appearance. Originally published in A Time to Crochet 1605, a printed collection of designs, this pattern offers a sophisticated construction method suitable for experienced crocheters.

Construction Technique

The Savona cardigan employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the crocheter begins at the lower edge and works upward toward the neckline. This approach allows for easier fitting adjustments and the ability to try on the garment as it progresses. After the main body is complete, ribbing is strategically added around all edges—including the front openings, neckline, and cuffs—to create clean, structured borders that enhance the jacket's overall silhouette and durability.

Primary Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Savona cardigan features the Snow Dunes Pattern as its signature stitch pattern. This decorative motif is based on a multiple of 12 stitches plus 2 for the foundation chain, creating a repeating design across the fabric.

• Foundation Row (Wrong Side): Combines single crochet stitches with chain spaces and decorative double crochet clusters. The row begins with single crochet in the second chain from the hook and subsequent chains, then incorporates chain-2 spaces, skipped chains, and a distinctive [double crochet, chain-3, double crochet] shell motif worked into single chains. This foundation establishes the textural foundation for the pattern.
• Row 1 (Right Side): Transforms the foundation into dimensional texture by working 3 double crochets into each chain-2 space, single double crochets into the existing double crochets, and 3 double crochets into the chain-3 spaces. Single crochet stitches anchor the pattern at regular intervals, creating visual separation between pattern repeats.
• Row 2: Returns to the foundational structure, working chain-4 (which counts as a double crochet and chain-1 throughout), double crochet stitches, chain-2 spaces, rows of 5 single crochets, and the repeating [double crochet, chain-3, double crochet] shell motifs.

These rows alternate to create the Snow Dunes Pattern, which produces an intricate, textured fabric with open spaces and dimensional clusters. The pattern's multiple of 12 stitches ensures consistent, repeatable design across the width of the cardigan.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Savona cardigan is designed to be worked with worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that provides good stitch definition and drape suitable for a structured cardigan jacket. Worsted weight yarn works efficiently with the Snow Dunes Pattern, allowing the decorative stitches to display clearly while maintaining fabric stability. A crochet hook appropriate for worsted weight yarn (typically sizes H/8, I/9, or J/10, depending on desired gauge) is used to execute the pattern stitches and create the finished garment.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as advanced, reflecting the complexity of the Snow Dunes Pattern and the overall construction. Crocheters should be comfortable with multiple stitch types, including single crochet, double crochet, and chain stitches, as well as understanding pattern repeats, stitch counts, and gauge. The bottom-up construction and the addition of ribbing around edges require intermediate to advanced shaping and finishing skills. This project is best suited for experienced crocheters who have successfully completed multiple garment projects.