Thea Cardigan in Ella Rae Classic Heathers - E18-03 - Downloadable PDF

Thea Cardigan Knitting Pattern – Ella Rae Classic Heathers (E18-03)

The Thea Cardigan is a beautifully understated knitted cardigan pattern designed for older children and teens, offered as a downloadable PDF by Ella Rae. Worked primarily in Garter stitch, this project is an excellent choice for knitters who appreciate clean, textural simplicity combined with a polished, wearable result. The pattern is sized for ages 11–12, 13–14, and 15–16 years, with corresponding bust measurements of 80cm, 85cm, and 90cm, making it a versatile addition to any young person's wardrobe.

What Is Being Made

The Thea Cardigan is a classic, structured cardigan featuring a back panel, a left front, and corresponding right front sections, all shaped with armhole shaping for a neat, fitted silhouette. The design is finished with a single toggle button, lending the cardigan a casual yet refined aesthetic. The garment is worked flat in separate pieces and seamed together, following a traditional construction method well-suited to knitters at an intermediate skill level.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting – The cardigan pieces are worked back and forth in rows on straight needles, with a circular needle also used at certain stages of construction.
• Armhole shaping – Stitches are cast off at the beginning of designated rows to create the armhole opening, adding garment structure and fit.
• Casting on and casting off – Standard techniques used throughout for beginning pieces and shaping.
• Increasing and decreasing – Referenced in the abbreviations, these techniques refine the fit of the garment through the shaping sections.
• Seaming – Individual pieces are joined after knitting to complete the cardigan's construction.
• Button attachment – A single toggle button is sewn on as a finishing detail.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch – The primary stitch pattern throughout the entire cardigan. Garter stitch is created by knitting every row when working flat, producing a ridged, reversible fabric with excellent drape and elasticity. It is beginner-friendly yet creates a sophisticated texture ideal for garments.
• Stockinette Stitch (St st) – Referenced in the abbreviations, suggesting its use in specific sections of the pattern such as edgings or finishing details.
• Knit (k) and Purl (p) – The fundamental stitches that underpin all construction throughout the pattern.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Ella Rae Classic Heathers in shade #137 – a worsted weight yarn. Quantities required are 700g for size 11–12, 800g for size 13–14, and 900g for size 15–16.
• Needles: One pair of 4mm (US 6) straight needles, one pair of 4.5mm (US 7) straight needles, and one 4mm (US 6) circular needle.
• Notions: One toggle button for the front closure.

Tension / Gauge

Achieving the correct tension is essential for a well-fitting finished garment. The pattern specifies a gauge of 21 stitches and 36 rows over 10cm / 4 inches of Garter stitch using 4.5mm needles. Knitters are encouraged to work a tension swatch before beginning and adjust needle size as needed to match this gauge precisely.

Pattern Format

The Thea Cardigan in Ella Rae Classic Heathers – E18-03 is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing instant access to the full pattern instructions, measurements, and abbreviations guide. It is a knitting pattern suitable for those comfortable