Purna

Purna Cardigan by Kristen TenDyke

What is Being Made

Purna is a knitted cardigan designed by Kristen TenDyke and published by Caterpillar Knits. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for creating a classic buttoned cardigan available in seven sizes, with finished bust circumferences ranging from 33 inches (84 cm) to 51 inches (129.5 cm). The cardigan features a 1½ inch (3.8 cm) overlapped band closure, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for various body types and fit preferences.

Techniques Used

The Purna cardigan employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques that add visual interest and shaping to the garment. The pattern incorporates right lifted increases (RLI), a method where the right needle is inserted into the right vertical bar of the stitch below the next stitch on the left needle and knitted to create a new stitch. This technique is commonly used for seamless shaping and creates a refined appearance. The pattern also utilizes slip, slip, knit (ssk) decreases, a standard left-leaning decrease made by slipping two stitches knitwise to the right needle, returning them to the left needle in turned position, and knitting them together through the back loops. These shaping techniques work together to create a well-fitted silhouette across the multiple size options.

Stitches and Stitch Work

The Purna cardigan is constructed using fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for an intermediate skill level. The pattern instructions reference both right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) rows, indicating that the cardigan includes directional shaping and stitch work that requires attention to which side of the fabric you are working on. Abbreviations used throughout the pattern include standard knitting notation such as pwise (purlwise) for inserting the needle as if to purl, wyb (with yarn in back) and wyf (with yarn in front) for yarn positioning during specific stitches, and rem (remaining) for tracking stitch counts. The pattern is worked in rounds (rnds) as well as rows, suggesting that portions of the cardigan may be constructed in the round for seamless construction before being shaped with increases and decreases.

Materials and Yarn

The Purna cardigan is designed to be knitted with worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn suitable for creating garments with good drape and structure. The pattern is shown in Plymouth's Homestead, a yarn composed of 100% Peruvian wool. Each 100-gram hank of this yarn provides approximately 191 yards of yardage. Depending on the size being made, the pattern requires between 5 and 8 hanks of yarn, with smaller sizes (33, 36, and 39 inches) requiring 5 to 6 hanks, medium sizes (42 and 45 inches) requiring 6 to 7 hanks, and larger sizes (48 and 51 inches) requiring 7 to 8 hanks. The specific yardage and fiber content of the recommended yarn provides guidance for selecting suitable substitutes if desired.

Pattern Format and Design Notes

This is a downloadable PDF pattern provided by independent designer Kristen TenDyke through Caterpillar Knits. The pattern demonstrates an environmentally conscious approach, with printed materials encouraging users to print only when necessary, use recycled paper, and print on both sides to help save resources. The comprehensive pattern includes finished measurements for all seven sizes, detailed abbreviations for all techniques used, and complete instructions for constructing this intermediate-level cardigan project.