517 Blue Mist Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Southwick

517 Blue Mist Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women

What Is Being Made

The 517 Blue Mist Cardigan is a women's fitted cardigan designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This garment features a classic silhouette with waist shaping and is available in six sizes ranging from 32 inches to 52 inches in finished bust measurement. The cardigan is worked from the bottom up and features lace detailing combined with stockinette stitch for a sophisticated, wearable design suitable for intermediate knitters.

Techniques Used

This cardigan employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its fitted, elegant shape:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The garment is knitted from the cast-on edge at the lower body upward, allowing for easy try-ons and adjustments during the knitting process.
• Worked Flat: All pieces are worked on straight needles in flat rows rather than in the round, making this an accessible project for knitters who prefer traditional flat knitting methods.
• Seamed Assembly: Individual pieces (back, fronts, and sleeves) are knitted separately and then seamed together, providing clean, professional finishing.
• Lace Detailing: Lace stitches are incorporated into the design to add visual interest and texture while maintaining breathability in the finished garment.
• Shaping Techniques: Strategic increases and decreases are used throughout to create the fitted waist and proper armhole shaping, with decreases worked at regular intervals (every 8th row) for gradual, balanced shaping.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used in this cardigan is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a knit side and purl side. Stockinette stitch is combined with lace stitches to create textured panels and design elements throughout the garment. Basic shaping stitches including standard increases and decreases are used to achieve the cardigan's fitted silhouette.

Materials

The 517 Blue Mist Cardigan is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Southwick, a worsted-weight yarn composed of 52% Pima Cotton and 48% Bamboo. This fiber blend creates a breathable, drape-friendly fabric ideal for a fitted cardigan. The yarn is available in the colorway Blue Mist (color 21). Each skein contains 50 grams and 105 yards of yarn. Pattern requirements range from 10 skeins for the smallest size (32 inches) to 18 skeins for the largest size (52 inches).

Knitting needles required are US size 5 (3.75 mm) or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge of 5.5 stitches and 7 rows per 1 inch in stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and fit of this cardigan.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate, making it suitable for knitters with some experience who are comfortable working with shaping techniques, lace stitches, and seaming pieces together. The combination of stockinette and lace work, along with the fitted shaping throughout the garment, requires attention to detail and familiarity with standard knitting abbreviations and techniques.