Fairisle Cardigan in Stylecraft Recreate - 9858 - Downloadable PDF

Stylecraft Recreate Fairisle Cardigan – Pattern 9858: Detailed Summary

Pattern 9858 from Stylecraft is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern for a classic Fairisle Cardigan, worked in Stylecraft Recreate DK yarn. The pattern covers a generous size range of 81/86 cm to 122/127 cm (32/34 in to 48/50 in), making it an inclusive design that caters to a wide variety of body sizes, explicitly including larger sizes. Rated as an intermediate difficulty project, this pattern is ideal for knitters who are comfortable with colourwork and are ready to develop their skills further. Notably, the pattern contains 3 designs, giving knitters a choice of colourway or style variations within the same purchase.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a Fairisle-style cardigan — a button-front, traditionally styled knitted jacket featuring repeating colourwork motifs across the body and sleeves. Fairisle cardigans are a timeless wardrobe staple, rooted in the heritage knitting traditions of the Shetland Islands, and are known for their intricate yet rhythmic patterning. This design brings that classic aesthetic into a contemporary context by using Stylecraft Recreate DK, a yarn with sustainability credentials, making the finished piece both stylish and conscientious.

The Three Designs

Because this pattern includes 3 distinct designs, knitters can choose between different colourwork arrangements or colourway combinations. Each design uses the same core construction and sizing framework but offers a different visual result through the use of the main colour (MC) and contrast colours as charted. This makes the pattern excellent value, effectively providing three separate cardigans in a single PDF download.

Techniques Used

• Fairisle / stranded colourwork: The defining technique of this pattern. Fairisle knitting involves carrying two or more yarn colours across each row, working stitches in each colour as directed by a chart. The unused yarn is stranded loosely across the back of the work, creating a double layer of fabric that is warm and structured.
• Colourwork chart reading: The PDF includes a detailed colourwork chart with a 29-row repeat, clearly showing the placement of the main colour (MC) and contrast colours row by row. Knitters must be comfortable reading symbol-based grid charts to follow this pattern accurately.
• Garment construction: As a cardigan, the pattern involves knitting separate front and back panels as well as sleeves, then seaming the pieces together — a traditional construction method that gives a neat, structured result.
• Shaping: Intermediate-level shaping techniques are used throughout, including armhole shaping, neckline shaping, and sleeve cap shaping, all of which require familiarity with increases and decreases within a colourwork context.
• Ribbing: Welts, cuffs, and button bands are typically worked in rib stitch to provide elasticity and a neat, professional finish on a garment of this style.

Stitches Used

• Knit and purl stitches: The fundamental building blocks of all knitted fabric, used throughout the body and sleeves.
• Stranded stocking stitch (stockinette): The main body of the Fairisle pattern is worked in stocking stitch, with colours changed according to the chart to create the colourwork motifs.
• Rib stitch (knit 1, purl 1 or knit 2, purl 2): Used for the welts at the hem, cuffs, and front button bands to create stretch and definition at the edges of the garment.
• Decrease stitches: Such as k2tog (knit two together) and ssk (slip, slip, knit), used during shaping sections for armholes, necklines, and sleeve caps.
• Increase stitches: Used during sleeve shaping to gradually widen the sleeve from cuff to underarm.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Stylecraft Recreate DK — a double knitting weight yarn. The pattern uses a main colour (MC) alongside one or more contrast colours to achieve the Fairisle colourwork