Wyeth

Wyeth Cardigan by Alicia Plummer

What is Being Made

The Wyeth is a knitted cardigan designed by Alicia Plummer. This intermediate-level garment is crafted using worsted-weight yarn and features a classic construction suitable for knitters with foundational skills and experience working with shaping techniques.

Finished Dimensions and Sizing

The Wyeth cardigan is available in six sizes with yardage requirements ranging from 880 yards for the smallest size up to 1780 yards for the largest size. This range accommodates various body measurements and allows for customization based on desired fit and finished garment dimensions.

Yarn and Materials

The Wyeth cardigan is designed to be worked in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter yarn in the Tent colorway. Brooklyn Tweed Shelter is a woolen-spun yarn, which means the finished garment will have excellent loft and heat retention while remaining relatively lightweight. The woolen-spun construction creates a garment with natural elasticity and warmth without excessive weight. Due to the delicate nature of woolen-spun yarn, care should be taken not to tug strongly on the yarn during knitting, as it may snap. Substituting alternative yarns may result in different fit and drape due to variations in loftiness between different yarn types.

Knitting Needles and Tools

• US size 7/4.5 mm circular needles and double-pointed needles (DPNs) for main fabric
• US size 6/4 mm circular needles and DPNs for ribbed sections
• Darning needle for weaving in ends
• Four place markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping

Gauge and Tension

The Wyeth cardigan is worked to a gauge of 20 stitches and 24 rows over a 4-inch (10 cm) square in Stockinette Stitch. Achieving accurate gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly with a garment that includes shaping and multiple sizes. Knitters should swatch before beginning the project and adjust needle sizes as needed to match the specified gauge.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Wyeth cardigan employs several fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for intermediate-level crafters. The garment is primarily constructed in Stockinette Stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric suitable for showcasing yarn texture and colorwork. The pattern begins with a long-tail cast-on method, a versatile technique that creates a neat, elastic edge ideal for cardigan openings.

The pattern incorporates chart-based colorwork or stitch patterns, indicated by the reference to Chart A, which knitters must follow carefully. The instructions include setup rows and directional notes, requiring knitters to pay attention to where they end on the chart and resume from the appropriate point on the wrong side. This level of pattern reading and chart work is typical of intermediate knitting projects.

The construction methodology involves working from the cast-on edge upward, with initial rows of Stockinette Stitch establishing the foundation before introducing the charted pattern sections. The use of place markers throughout the project helps knitters track pattern repeats and shaping increases or decreases, which are common elements in fitted cardigan construction.

Difficulty Level

The Wyeth is classified as an intermediate knitting project. Knitters should be comfortable with reading written instructions and charts, managing multiple stitches on circular needles, and executing basic shaping techniques. Experience with gauge swatching and yarn substitution considerations is beneficial for successfully completing this design.