Broad-Striped Cardigan in BC Garn Semilla - 2200BC - Downloadable PDF

Broad-Striped Cardigan in BC Garn Semilla

What is Being Made

This is a knitted cardigan featuring broad horizontal stripes, designed by Lene Holme Samsøe. The garment is available in four sizes ranging from Small to Extra Large, with bust measurements from 86 cm to 110 cm and finished lengths between 69 cm and 73 cm. The cardigan is constructed as a button-front closure piece, fastened with seven buttons for a classic, tailored look.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The Broad-Striped Cardigan employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance. The primary construction method uses garter stitch, a fundamental knitting technique created by knitting every row on both the right and wrong sides. This produces a reversible, textured fabric with horizontal ridges that pairs beautifully with the broad color stripes.

The design also incorporates patent stitch as a secondary technique. Patent stitch is worked by knitting a stitch together with the stitch below it on the right side, then knitting all stitches on the wrong side. This creates an elastic, dimensional fabric with excellent drape and recovery, making it ideal for garment construction.

The cardigan features strategic shaping at the sides, with increases and decreases worked at the beginning of rows to create the fitted silhouette. The striped pattern is achieved through color changes between three coordinating shades of yarn, creating a visually striking horizontal stripe effect throughout the body and sleeves.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch (garter st): The primary stitch throughout the garment, created by knitting every row
• Patent Stitch (PS): A textured stitch used for dimensional fabric sections
• Knit (K): Basic knit stitch
• Purl (P): Basic purl stitch
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used for shaping
• Through Back Loop (tbl): A variation technique for creating twisted stitches

Materials and Yarn Specifications

This cardigan is designed to be knitted with Semilla yarn from BC Garn, a DK weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition and drape. The yarn requirements vary by size:

• Sizes S and M: 200 g each of ob112 (green) and ob111 (petrol), plus 100 g of ob106 (aqua)
• Sizes L and XL: 250 g each of ob112 (green) and ob111 (petrol), plus 150 g of ob106 (aqua)

The three coordinating colorways—ob112 green, ob111 petrol, and ob106 aqua—create a cohesive striped palette that transitions smoothly across the garment. The DK weight classification ensures a balanced fabric weight suitable for a structured cardigan.

Needles and Tools

Construction requires 4 mm straight needles for the main body sections and 4 mm circular needles measuring 80 cm for working larger circumferences and seamless sections. The needle size is calibrated to achieve the correct tension for the yarn weight.

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 20 stitches over 10 centimeters when working in garter stitch. Achieving correct gauge is essential for obtaining the proper finished measurements and ensuring the cardigan fits as designed. Knitters should swatch before beginning the project to verify their personal tension matches this specification.

Additional Materials

The cardigan requires seven buttons for the front closure, completing the classic cardigan construction. These buttons serve both functional and aesthetic purposes in the finished garment.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle shaping, color changes, and multiple stitch techniques. The combination of garter stitch simplicity with patent stitch complexity and color work provides an engaging project for developing knitters.