Fredrika Cardigan in Novita Venla - Downloadable PDF

Fredrika Cardigan in Novita Venla – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Fredrika Cardigan is a beautifully crafted, colorwork knitting pattern designed by Sari Nordlund and published by Novita. This downloadable PDF pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is available as a free download. It produces a classic, button-front cardigan featuring a striking repeating stranded colorwork motif worked across the body and sleeves. The finished garment is sized to fit a range of body measurements, making it a versatile project for knitters who are comfortable with colorwork and basic garment shaping.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a full button-front cardigan knitted in the round and flat sections, complete with a ribbed hem, ribbed cuffs, shaped armholes, a defined neckline, and a button band. The cardigan is constructed in separate pieces — a back, a left front, and presumably a right front and sleeves — which are then seamed together. It features 13 buttons as closures along the front band.

The finished garment is available in six sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, and XXL, with the following completed dimensions:

• Body circumference: 86 (94) 102 (110) 118 (126) cm / 33¾ (37) 40¼ (43¼) 46½ (49½) in
• Length: 56 (58) 60 (62) 64 (66) cm / 22 (22¾) 23½ (24½) 25¼ (26) in
• Inner sleeve length: 44 (45) 46 (47) 47 (48) cm

Colorwork Design

The defining feature of the Fredrika Cardigan is its repeating stranded colorwork chart. The pattern is based on a 12-stitch repeat that runs continuously across the fabric. Knitters work rows 1 through 43 of the chart, then repeat rows 1–43 throughout the body. Each size has a designated starting point on the chart, clearly marked with an arrow, making it straightforward to align the pattern correctly regardless of size. This type of colorwork, often associated with Scandinavian and Nordic knitting traditions, involves carrying two or more yarn colors across each row, creating a dense, warm, and visually rich fabric.

Techniques Used

• Stranded colorwork (Fair Isle / Nordic style): Working with multiple yarn colors simultaneously across a row, following a charted 12-stitch repeat pattern across 43 rows
• Ribbing: A knit 1 ribbing (beginning on the wrong side with k1) is used for the hem and cuffs, worked for approximately 3 cm to provide a neat, stretchy edge
• Stockinette stitch: Two rows of plain stockinette are worked after the ribbing before beginning the colorwork chart, providing a smooth transition
• Armhole shaping: Stitches are bound off on every other row at both ends of the back piece in a stepped sequence to create a neat armhole curve
• Neckline shaping: The center back stitches are bound off for the neckline, and each shoulder is worked separately with additional bind-offs at the neckline edge on every other row
• Shoulder bind-off: Final shoulder stitches are bound off straight once the armhole reaches the required depth
• Flat knitting: Front pieces and likely the button bands are worked flat (back and forth in rows)

Stitches Used

• Knit 1 ribbing – used for the hem and cuffs
• Stockinette stitch – used as a transition and as the base fabric for the colorwork sections
• Stranded colorwork stitches – worked following the charted 12-stitch, 43-row repeat pattern using multiple colors

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Novita Venla, a 4-