Cardigan in Schachenmayr Tahiti - 2183

Cardigan in Schachenmayr Tahiti Lace Weight Yarn

What is Being Made

This is a downloadable knitting pattern for a cardigan constructed from multiple body sections. The design features a center back panel, right side back panel, and corresponding front sections, all worked separately and assembled to create a finished cardigan. The pattern is available in five size options, accommodating a range of fit requirements.

Construction Technique

The cardigan is built using a modular construction method, with distinct pattern pieces that are worked individually before assembly. The back sections are created first, with the center back panel and side back panels worked as separate components. This approach allows for precise shaping and the incorporation of strategic increases and decreases to create the garment's silhouette. The pattern employs short row shaping at the shoulders, a technique that creates gradual slope without binding off large numbers of stitches, resulting in a smooth, professional shoulder line.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns Used

The cardigan incorporates two primary stitch patterns. A ribbed cuff pattern (Bünd­chen­muster) is used at the lower edges, typically worked in a knit-purl combination that creates vertical elasticity and helps the garment sit close to the body. This ribbing is worked over the first 3 centimeters of the piece. Above the ribbing, the main body is worked in stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, flat fabric suitable for lace weight yarn. The stockinette sections are worked both flat and in reverse directions depending on the panel, with careful attention to edge stitches (Randm) to ensure clean selvages.

The side back panel incorporates graduated increases along the side edge, worked alternately in every second and fourth row to create a gentle, shaped curve. The shoulder shaping uses short rows with wrapped stitches, a technique where stitches are worked for a partial row, then the working yarn is wrapped around the next stitch before turning. This creates seamless shoulder shaping without visible steps.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

This pattern is designed for Schachenmayr Tahiti, a lace weight yarn that creates an open, airy fabric ideal for warm-weather garments. Lace weight yarn requires fine needles to achieve proper fabric density and drape. The pattern calls for needles in sizes 2½–3 and 3–3½, with the smaller needles used for the ribbed cuff sections to maintain elasticity, and the larger needles used for the main stockinette body to create the intended gauge and fabric hand. The progression from smaller to larger needles is a standard technique for creating well-fitted garments with lace weight materials.

Pattern Details and Sizing

The cardigan is offered in five distinct size options, with stitch counts for the center back panel ranging from 56 to 64 stitches depending on size selection. The right side back panel begins with 35 to 55 stitches depending on size, and increases significantly through the side shaping to accommodate the garment's width. The finished back length measures approximately 50 centimeters for the center panel, with shoulder shaping beginning around 45 centimeters. The final shoulder section retains between 17 and 27 stitches depending on the chosen size, creating a properly proportioned neckline opening.

Skill Level Considerations

This pattern requires intermediate knitting skills. Knitters should be comfortable with basic stitches, reading pattern abbreviations in German, managing multiple stitch counts across different sizes, and executing short row shaping with wrapped stitches. The modular construction method, while allowing for precision, requires careful attention to pattern instructions and stitch counts to ensure proper assembly.