Boxy Cardigan in Noro Tsubame - 16861 - Downloadable PDF

Boxy Cardigan in Noro Tsubame – Pattern Summary

This pattern from Noro delivers a relaxed, boxy-fit cardigan with a clean, modern silhouette that suits a wide range of body types. Worked in the brand's celebrated Noro Tsubame yarn, the design showcases the yarn's naturally shifting color palette while keeping the construction approachable for intermediate knitters. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for home printing or digital use.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The Boxy Cardigan is offered in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large, with the sample garment shown in Small. Finished measurements include:

• Bust (closed): 41 (45, 49, 53) in / 104 (114, 124, 134.5) cm
• Length: 22 (22½, 23¼, 24) in / 56 (57, 59, 61) cm
• Upper arm: 14½ (15½, and additional sizes as specified in the full pattern)

The generous, boxy proportions are intentional, creating an oversized, relaxed drape that pairs well with fitted bottoms and works across casual and smart-casual styling.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically for Noro Tsubame, a DK weight yarn celebrated for its hand-dyed, self-striping colorways and luxurious fiber content. Tsubame's gradual color transitions mean no two finished cardigans will look exactly alike, adding an element of organic artistry to the finished piece. Knitters should refer to the full pattern PDF for precise yardage requirements per size. Standard knitting needles appropriate for DK weight yarn are required, along with stitch markers and a tapestry needle for finishing.

Construction and Techniques

This cardigan is rated Intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping, reading charts, and working a variety of increase methods. Key techniques used throughout the pattern include:

• Make One (M1): A lifted-strand increase worked by inserting the left-hand needle tip from front to back under the strand between the last stitch worked and the next stitch, then knitting into the back loop to create a neat, nearly invisible increase.
• Make One Purl Stitch (M1P): A purl-side variation of the lifted increase, worked by lifting the strand between stitches with the needle tip and purling it, adding one purl stitch seamlessly into the fabric.
• Pick Up and Knit / Pick Up and Purl: Used along edges to create neat, integrated borders, button bands, or neckline finishes without seaming.
• Chart Reading with "No Stitch" Spaces: The pattern incorporates stitch charts that include shaded "no stitch" spaces, which appear where stitches have been decreased or not yet created. Knitters work across active stitches only, skipping the shaded placeholders — a technique common in shaped knitting charts.
• Stitch Markers: Used throughout to track sections and shaping points, placed by looping a piece of contrasting yarn or a purchased marker onto the needle.

Stitches Used

While the full stitch list is detailed within the downloadable PDF, the pattern draws on a combination of knit and purl stitches to build the cardigan's fabric, with shaping achieved through the increase methods described above. The straightforward stitch vocabulary keeps the focus on construction and the natural beauty of the Noro Tsubame colorwork rather than complex stitch patterns.

Pattern Format

The Boxy Cardigan in Noro Tsubame is sold as a downloadable PDF from Noro, providing written instructions alongside any relevant stitch charts. The intermediate rating reflects the shaping techniques and chart reading involved rather than any highly advanced stitchwork, making this an excellent next-step project for knitters looking to move beyond basic garment construction into more refined, fashion-forward knitwear.