Cardigan Fee

Cardigan Fee by Beemohr

What is Being Made

The Cardigan Fee is an elegant angora cardigan designed as part of the boleros collection. This intermediate-level knitting project features a classic cardigan silhouette with raglan armhole shaping and a structured neckline. The garment is constructed in five different sizes to accommodate various body measurements, making it a versatile wardrobe piece.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques that build upon each other throughout the construction process. The cardigan begins with a ribbed cuff worked on smaller needles to create elasticity and a finished edge, then transitions to larger needles for the main body fabric. The pattern incorporates strategic increases along the side seams to create shaping, with increases worked every tenth row to maintain proportion.

Raglan armhole shaping is a key technical element, achieved through a combination of bind-offs at the armhole opening and then a series of decreases worked in a repeating four-row sequence. This creates the characteristic sloped armhole line of a raglan-style garment. The decreases are positioned symmetrically—three stitches are maintained as a selvage edge on each side, with double decreases (both ssk and k2tog) worked just inside these selvage stitches to create a neat, tapered line.

The neckline shaping demonstrates intermediate-level construction, with the front and back pieces worked separately using two balls of yarn simultaneously. This two-color knitting technique allows the neck opening to be shaped on both sides at once, with decreases staggered across multiple rows to create a gradual, professional-looking neckline curve.

Stitches Used

• Ribbed Pattern: The foundation of the cardigan, worked over the first 6 rows using smaller needles to create an elastic, finished edge
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch throughout the main body and all shaping sections, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used on right-side rows for the raglan shaping
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used on right-side rows for the raglan shaping
• Bind Off (BO): Used to secure stitches at the armhole opening and neckline
• Cast On (CO): The foundation row, worked in multiple sizes from 80 to 122 stitches depending on desired garment size

Materials and Specifications

The Cardigan Fee is worked in 4-ply yarn weight, a medium-weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition and drape. The pattern specifies angora fiber, known for its luxurious softness, warmth, and subtle sheen—making this cardigan a refined, comfortable garment suitable for layering or wearing as a standalone piece.

The pattern requires two sets of needles: smaller needles for the ribbed cuff sections and larger needles for the main stockinette stitch body. The exact needle sizes are not specified in the provided excerpt, but the pattern is designed to be worked with appropriate sizing to achieve the correct gauge and finished measurements.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

The Cardigan Fee is available in five sizes, with the back piece measuring approximately 8.7 inches (22 centimeters) in length from the ribbed cuff to the armhole. The total length from the cast-on edge to the shoulder varies by size, ranging from approximately 14.2 inches (36 centimeters) to 18.1 inches (46 centimeters), accommodating different proportions and preferences. The pattern provides multiple stitch counts at each stage—from the initial cast-on through the raglan shaping and neckline decreases—ensuring proper fit across the size range.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an intermediate project, the Cardigan Fee requires competency with basic knitting techniques including cast-on, bind-off, and stockinette stitch, as well as familiarity with increases and decreases. The raglan armhole shaping and two-sided neckline construction add complexity, making this pattern suitable for knitters who have completed several simpler projects and are ready to tackle garment construction with multiple shaping elements.