Early Morning

Early Morning Cardigan by Hinterm Stein

Garment Overview

The Early Morning cardigan is a lightweight, beginner-friendly knit design crafted by independent designer Hinterm Stein. This summer cardigan combines practicality with modern style, offering comfort during cool mornings while remaining easy to wear throughout the day. The design features contemporary dropped shoulders paired with graphic striped colorwork, balanced by delicate eyelet detailing that adds a feminine aesthetic to the piece.

What Is Being Made

This is a pullover cardigan available in seven sizes ranging from XS to XXL, with finished bust widths from 82cm to 130cm (33.25 inches to 51.75 inches). The garment is designed as a versatile layering piece suitable for transitional weather, particularly effective for early morning wear when temperatures are cool and dewy conditions prevail.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Colorwork: The cardigan features graphic stripes created through multi-color knitting, incorporating three distinct colors to build visual interest and pattern definition
• Eyelet Pattern: Decorative eyelets are strategically incorporated throughout the design to provide feminine detailing and visual texture while maintaining the garment's lightweight construction
• Dropped Shoulder Shaping: The modish dropped shoulder construction is a key design element that contributes to the contemporary silhouette and ease of wear
• Circular Knitting: The garment is worked using circular needles, allowing for seamless construction or in-the-round techniques typical of modern cardigan design

Stitches and Stitch Work

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the pattern materials provided, the construction incorporates fundamental knitting stitches combined with eyelet work. The eyelet pattern requires yarn overs and decreases to create the decorative openwork sections. The striped colorwork is achieved through standard knit and purl stitches worked in alternating colors according to the pattern chart, creating the graphic visual effect that defines the cardigan's aesthetic.

Materials and Gauge

The Early Morning cardigan is designed to be worked in 4-ply yarn (fingering weight), which contributes to the lightweight, breathable quality appropriate for summer layering. The sample garment was knit using Holst Coast Colors yarn in three colorways: Ice Sea as the main color, Putty as the first contrasting color, and Sapphire as the second contrasting color.

Construction requires circular needles measuring 80-100cm (32-40 inches) in the size needed to achieve the specified gauge, approximately 3-3.5mm or US 3-4. The gauge is 10x10cm or 4x4 inches, which is essential to achieve the correct finished measurements. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends, and a crochet hook for finishing techniques.

Estimated yarn consumption varies based on size selection and is detailed on page 2 of the pattern. Knitters should note that differences in personal gauge and individual yarn choices may affect the total yardage required for completion.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to cardigan construction or colorwork techniques. The straightforward construction combined with the use of standard knitting fundamentals ensures accessibility for developing knitters while still delivering a polished, professional-looking finished garment.