Bohéme Cardigan

Bohéme Cardigan by Faroeknit

What is Being Made

The Bohéme Cardigan is a knitted cardigan sweater designed for intermediate knitters. This garment is constructed in the round using a steek cutting technique, which allows for seamless circular knitting followed by a strategic cut to create the front opening. The cardigan features a classic silhouette available in six sizes ranging from XS to XXL, with chest circumferences from 84 cm to 132 cm and total lengths from 55 cm to 62 cm. The design showcases a two-color colorwork pattern, as evidenced by the pictured size S cardigan in mustard yellow and off-white.

Knitting Techniques

This project employs several key knitting techniques suited to intermediate skill levels:

• Circular knitting: The body is knitted in the round on circular needles, which creates a seamless fabric and allows for efficient colorwork integration.
• Steek cutting: A traditional Faroese technique where the knitter cuts through the knitted fabric after completion to create the front cardigan opening. This method eliminates the need for traditional button bands worked separately and creates a distinctive finished edge.
• Colorwork: The design incorporates two colors—a main color and a contrast color—worked into the fabric during knitting, creating patterned sections throughout the garment.
• Dpn (double-pointed needle) work: The pattern uses 5 double-pointed needles for sections requiring smaller circumferences, such as the sleeves and neckline.

Stitches Used

The Bohéme Cardigan utilizes fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for intermediate crafters:

• Knit stitch (k): The primary stitch forming the base fabric.
• Purl stitch (p): Used selectively within the pattern structure.
• Rounds (rnd): The cardigan is worked in continuous rounds rather than flat rows, maintaining the circular construction method.

Materials and Gauge

The Bohéme Cardigan is designed for worsted weight yarn. The pattern specifies 3-ply Snældan or Navia Trio as suitable yarn options, though any yarn of equivalent weight may be substituted. Yardage requirements vary by size: the XS requires 300 g of main color and 100 g of contrast color, while the XXL requires 550 g of main color and 150 g of contrast color.

The pattern calls for circular knitting needles in sizes 4.5 (US 7) and 5 (US 8), along with 5 double-pointed needles in the same sizes. Additional materials include a wool or sewing needle for finishing and a stitch holder for managing live stitches during construction.

The correct gauge is 18 stitches and 26 rounds per 10 cm (4 inches) when knitted in the round on size 5 (US 8) needles using the main color yarn. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements, and knitters are advised to adjust needle size if necessary to match this specification.

Construction Overview

The body begins with a cast-on of 146 to 230 stitches (depending on size) plus 6 additional stitches on size 4.5 (US 7) circular needles. The final 6 stitches serve as center stitches for the steek and are handled distinctly from the main body stitches. The pattern progresses through the body sections before the steek cutting technique is applied to create the cardigan's front opening, making this an engaging project for knitters seeking to expand their technical skills.