Viennese Janka

Viennese Janka Cardigan by Jutta Maria Guerth

What Is Being Made

The Viennese Janka is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed by Jutta Maria Guerth. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for creating a fitted cardigan with shaping at the waist, available in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large. The garment features button closure and incorporates both knit and crochet techniques for finishing details.

Knitting Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its structured silhouette. The pattern uses waist shaping through strategic decreases and increases: stitches are bound off on each side during rows 29 and 39 to create a narrower waist, then cast on again in rows 49 and 59 to restore the original stitch count. The design incorporates charted colorwork, with a repeating pattern worked across rows 1 through 4 continuously. The back piece begins with a cast-on of 72 stitches (for size Medium) and is worked following the provided chart, with wrong-side rows worked by knitting all stitches as they appear.

Stitches and Construction

The primary stitch used throughout the cardigan body is knitting stitch, which creates the main fabric. For finishing, the pattern incorporates single crochet (sc) and reverse single crochet (rsc) edgings, worked with a crochet hook. These crochet techniques provide a polished, structured edge suitable for button bands and armholes. The garment is constructed in pieces—at minimum a back piece—which are then assembled and finished.

Materials and Specifications

The Viennese Janka requires aran-weight yarn with a yardage of approximately 170 meters per 50 grams (186 yards per 50 grams). Total yarn requirements vary by size: Size Small and Medium each require 350 grams, Size Large requires 400 grams, and Size Extra Large requires 450 grams. A small amount of contrast-color yarn (approximately 20 grams) is also needed for accent details.

Essential tools include US size 7 (4.5mm) knitting needles for the main fabric and a 3.5mm crochet hook for edging work. Additional materials include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, 9 buttons for closure, and polyester thread for securing buttons. The pattern specifies a gauge of 15 stitches and 24 rows over a 10 by 10 centimeter (4 by 4 inch) square, which is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, the Viennese Janka is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle garment construction, charted colorwork, and fitted shaping. The combination of waist decreases and increases, chart reading, and finishing techniques makes this an engaging project for developing knitters.