Tulips

Tulips Cardigan by Lily Tang

What is Being Made

Tulips is a children's cardigan designed by Lily Tang, sized to fit kids ages 4, 6, and 8 years old. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a finished garment with a chest measurement of 26 (28.5, 29) inches / 66 (72, 74) centimeters and a length of 15.5 (17.7, 18.5) inches / 39 (45, 47) centimeters. The cardigan features a classic construction with separate front and back pieces that are worked and then joined together.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques. The pattern uses straight needles for the main body pieces and circular needles for picking up stitches along the edges, a common approach in cardigan construction. Knitters will practice casting on, binding off, and working in stockinette stitch as the primary fabric. The pattern includes a stem stitch detail that is worked as a repeating motif, requiring knitters to follow a stitch pattern over multiple rows. The cardigan construction involves dividing the front and back pieces, which is a key technique in garment shaping. Stitches are transferred to waste yarn or spare needles during construction, demonstrating stitch management skills necessary for intermediate projects.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (st st): The primary fabric stitch, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, providing a smooth, classic finish
• Stem Stitch Pattern: A decorative motif worked over rows 1 through 18 and repeated as needed, adding visual interest to the cardigan
• Cast On and Bind Off: Essential edge techniques used to begin and finish the knitted pieces

Materials and Tools

Yarn: Sport weight yarn is used throughout this project. The pattern suggests Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Sport Yarn in the colorway Hollyberry (25298), which is 100% wool with a yardage of 127 yards per 50 grams. Knitters will need 4 (5, 6) balls depending on the size being made.

Needles and Tools: One pair of size 5 (3.75mm) straight needles is required for working the main body pieces. One 80-centimeter circular needle in size 5 (3.75mm) is needed for picking up stitches along the edges and working the neckline and other areas that benefit from circular needle construction. Waste yarn or spare needles are necessary for holding stitches during the assembly process.

Gauge: The pattern specifies a gauge of 24 stitches and 31 rows to 4 inches / 10 centimeters over stockinette stitch. Checking gauge before beginning is emphasized as essential to ensure the finished cardigan meets the intended measurements.