Welt Cardigan in Rowan Pure Alpaca - Downloadable PDF

Welt Cardigan in Rowan Pure Alpaca

What is Being Made

The Welt Cardigan is a knitted cardigan designed to fit chest measurements ranging from 71-76 cm (28-30 inches) up to 152-157 cm (60-62 inches), with nine size options available. The finished garment features actual chest measurements from 84.5 cm to 166 cm, offering a versatile fit across multiple sizing categories. This is an intermediate-level knitting project suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex stitch patterns and shaping techniques.

Techniques Used

The Welt Cardigan employs several intermediate knitting techniques to create its finished structure. The pattern utilizes increases and decreases for shaping, with increases worked on specific rows (rows 23 and following fourth rows) to add width, and decreases at side seam edges and other strategic locations to create the cardigan's silhouette. The construction involves joining hem sections, indicating that different parts of the garment are knitted separately and then seamed together. The pattern also requires changing needle sizes during construction, moving from larger needles to 3¾mm (US 5) needles as the pattern progresses, which affects fabric density and drape.

Stitches Used

The Welt Cardigan features a combination of stitch patterns that create visual interest and texture. A 20-row cable panel is repeated throughout the garment as a central design element, providing the distinctive welt detailing that gives the cardigan its name. Complementing the cable panel is an 8-row textured pattern that repeats continuously, adding depth and dimension to the fabric. The pattern also incorporates ribbing, which is used in specific sections and requires decreasing stitches evenly across the ribbed areas to maintain proper proportions and ensure the ribbed sections lie flat against the body.

Materials

The Welt Cardigan is designed to be knitted using Rowan Pure Alpaca yarn, a luxury fiber choice that provides softness and warmth. The yarn is worked in a worsted weight category (373), which is a medium weight suitable for creating structured garments with good stitch definition. The pattern calls for 3¾mm (US 5) needles as the primary needle size for the main fabric sections, though larger needles are used in earlier stages of construction before the transition. The yardage requirements vary by size, with each size requiring specific yardage amounts of the 50-gram balls of Pure Alpaca yarn to complete the project.