Honesty Cardigan

Honesty Cardigan by Kari-Helene Rane

What is Being Made

The Honesty Cardigan is a button-front cardigan designed by independent designer Kari-Helene Rane. This knitted garment is available in five sizes ranging from XS to XL, with bust measurements from 73 cm (29 inches) to 112 cm (44 inches). The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in size Small. This is an intermediate-level knitting project suitable for crafters with foundational knitting skills who are ready to tackle garment construction and colorwork techniques.

Techniques Used

The Honesty Cardigan employs stranded colorwork as its primary design technique, with color changes occurring every two rows throughout the garment. The pattern incorporates button band construction with integrated buttonholes positioned along the front opening. The cardigan is worked using stocking stitch as the main fabric structure, which creates a smooth, refined appearance ideal for showcasing the alpaca fiber. Light steaming is recommended after completion to set the tension and enhance the finished drape of the garment.

Stitches Used

• Stocking Stitch (Stockinette Stitch) — the primary stitch pattern forming the body and sleeves, creating the classic smooth knit fabric
• One-Row Buttonhole — a functional buttonhole technique used for the front button band, created by slipping stitches and bringing yarn to the front at designated positions
• Garter Stitch or Ribbing — implied for edge finishing and button band structure (standard in cardigan construction)

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Honesty Cardigan is knitted using Purl Alpaca Fine, a luxury yarn composed of 100% English Alpaca fiber. This yarn is classified as a DK to Sport weight, offering a refined drape suitable for fitted garments. The yardage is 116 meters per 50-gram ball.

Yarn Requirements by Size:

• Size XS: 4 balls Colour A + 3 balls Colour B + 6 balls plain colour
• Size S: 5 balls Colour A + 4 balls Colour B + 7 balls plain colour
• Size M: 5 balls Colour A + 4 balls Colour B + 8 balls plain colour
• Size L: 5 balls Colour A + 4 balls Colour B + 9 balls plain colour
• Size XL: 6 balls Colour A + 5 balls Colour B + 10 balls plain colour

The sample cardigan shown in the pattern is photographed in Alpaca Rain (Colour A) and Alpaca Mist (Colour B), demonstrating a sophisticated two-tone colorwork design against a plain solid base color.

Needles and Notions

The pattern calls for two pairs of knitting needles: 3.5 mm and 4 mm, allowing for ribbed edges worked on the smaller needles and the main fabric on the larger needles. The tension is measured at 20 stitches and 29 rows to a 10-centimeter square over stocking stitch using 4 mm needles after light steaming. Knitters should adjust needle size as needed to match the specified tension for proper garment fit.

Additional notions required include four medium-sized buttons (approximately 1.2 cm in diameter), a blunt tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends, and a sewing needle with matching thread for attaching buttons securely to the finished cardigan.

Design Features

The Honesty Cardigan combines elegant two-color stranded colorwork with a classic button-front closure, making it a versatile layering piece. The intermediate difficulty level reflects the skills required to manage multiple colors while maintaining even tension and executing buttonhole placement accurately. The use of pure alpaca fiber provides exceptional softness and breathability, while the DK to Sport weight ensures a lightweight yet structured garment suitable for various seasons.