Adrift

Adrift Cardigan by Carol Feller

What is Being Made

Adrift is an elegantly draped cardigan designed by Carol Feller, perfect for cool evenings. This knit cardigan features distinctive long front panels with versatile styling options—they can hang down to create a cascading front or be pinned across the front like a shawl. The cardigan is constructed using a top-down knitting method, making it an accessible project for intermediate knitters who want to create a sophisticated, airy garment.

Knitting Techniques

This cardigan employs top-down construction, a popular technique that allows knitters to try on the garment as they work and easily customize the length. The design emphasizes drape and flow, utilizing the natural stretch and fluidity of lace-weight yarn to create an elegant silhouette. The long front panels are a signature design element that requires careful shaping and attention to stitch placement to achieve the intended cascading or shawl-like effect.

Stitches and Stitch Work

While specific stitch patterns are detailed in the full pattern, the cardigan is worked in lace-weight yarn, which typically incorporates openwork stitches and strategic yarn overs to create the soft, airy fabric characteristic of lace knitting. The construction method and yarn weight work together to produce a fabric with excellent drape and visual interest.

Materials

• Yarn: Malabrigo Lace (100% Baby Merino wool; 470 yards/430 meters per 50g skein) in Glazed Carrot colorway
• Yardage by Size: Short sleeves require 2 to 4 skeins depending on size; ¾ length sleeves require 3 to 5 skeins
• Needles: US 6/4mm double-pointed needles (or magic loop method for sleeves)
• Sizing: Available in 9 sizes to fit bust measurements from 30" to 54" (76cm to 137cm)

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex shaping and lace techniques. The top-down construction and stretchy lace fabric require attention to detail and understanding of garment construction principles.