Isabella Cardiagn in Adriafil Energia - Downloadable PDF

Isabella Cardigan (Gilet) Knitting Pattern in Adriafil Energia – Free Downloadable PDF

The Isabella Gilet is a classic knitted cardigan pattern designed to be worked in Adriafil Energia, an aran weight yarn. This free downloadable PDF pattern produces an elegant sleeveless cardigan featuring a neat front button band, shaped neckline, and clean shoulder construction. The design is offered in multiple sizes, making it a versatile project suitable for knitters with a solid understanding of basic shaping techniques.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a sleeveless cardigan, also referred to as a gilet or vest. It features a structured front opening with a button band worked directly into the fronts, a shaped neckline, and precisely constructed shoulders. The clean, timeless silhouette makes this piece a wardrobe staple that can be layered over blouses or worn as a standalone top. The pattern includes instructions for a back panel, a right front, and a left front, with mirrored shaping on each side.

Construction and Shaping Techniques

The Isabella Gilet is worked in separate flat pieces that are seamed together upon completion. Key construction details include:

• Back panel: Cast on and work an initial border in Garter stitch before transitioning to the main body fabric. Side shaping is achieved through increases and decreases worked at both edges to create a fitted silhouette.
• Neckline shaping: When the back measures 27 cm, the center 20 stitches are bound off and each shoulder half is finished separately. Additional neck shaping is worked by binding off 2 sets of 4 stitches every 2 rows at the neck edge.
• Shoulder shaping: Simultaneously with the neckline, shoulder stitches are bound off in stages — first 1 set of 8, 9, or 10 stitches (depending on size), followed by 2 sets of 7, 8, or 9 stitches — creating a neat, structured shoulder line.
• Right front: Cast on 32, 35, or 38 stitches depending on size, and work 5 rows of Garter stitch as a foundation border. The first 3 stitches are maintained in Garter stitch throughout to form the button band, while the remaining stitches are worked in Stockinette stitch.
• Buttonhole construction: When the right front measures 7 cm, a simple one-stitch buttonhole is worked beside the Garter stitch band by binding off 1 stitch and casting it back on in the following row. This technique creates a small, tidy eyelet-style buttonhole.
• Neckline shaping on fronts: Beginning when the front measures 10 cm, decreases are worked at the neck edge — 18 decreases of 1 stitch, worked every 2 rows — to shape the graceful V-neck or rounded neckline. Decreases are positioned beside the Garter stitch band for a polished finish.
• Left front: Worked identically to the right front with all shaping reversed, and omitting the buttonhole.
• Stitch holders: The 3 Garter stitch band stitches on each front are transferred to a stitch holder at the end, likely to be picked up later for finishing the neckband.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Garter stitch – used for the lower border, side edges, and the front button bands, providing a firm, non-curling edge
• Stockinette stitch – the primary body fabric, creating a smooth knitted surface
• Slip 1, K1, PSSO (pass slipped stitch over) – a left-leaning decrease used specifically beside the Garter stitch band on the front neckline shaping
• Bind-off shaping – used at shoulders and neckline to create structured, stepped shaping
• Buttonhole technique – a simple one-row bind-off and cast-on method for a clean, functional buttonhole
• Stitch holder usage – for holding live stitches