Rhinebeck Cardigan in Loopy Mango Summer Cotton - Downloadable PDF

Rhinebeck Cardigan in Loopy Mango Summer Cotton — Knitting Pattern Summary

The Rhinebeck Cardigan is a relaxed, open-front cardigan designed by Loopy Mango and knitted in their Summer Yarn, a 100% cotton yarn. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a classic layering piece with a structured ribbed hem and cuffs that transitions into a smooth stockinette body — a combination that gives the finished garment both texture and drape. The pattern is rated Intermediate in difficulty and is available in five sizes ranging from XS/S through 2X/3X, making it an inclusive and versatile project for a wide range of knitters.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a drop-shoulder, open-front cardigan worked in separate panels — a back, a right front panel, and a left front panel — that are seamed together upon completion. The finished cardigan has a casual, slightly oversized silhouette with finished measurements ranging from 23 inches wide and 16 inches long (XS/S) up to 31 inches wide and 21 inches long (2X/3X). Sleeves are worked separately and set into the body, giving the garment a clean, structured look appropriate for layering over warm-weather tops.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Loopy Mango Summer Yarn — 100% cotton, approximately 90 yards (82 m) per 100 g (3.5 oz) ball. You will need 5 balls (XS/S), 6 balls (S/M), 7 balls (M/L), 8 balls (L/XL), or 9 balls (2X/3X).
• Needles: US size 10 (6 mm) circular needles, 32 inches (80 cm) in length, used for the ribbed sections.
• Needles: US size 15 (10 mm) circular needles, at least 20 inches (50 cm) in length, used for the stockinette body sections.

The use of two different needle sizes is a key feature of this pattern. The smaller US 10 needles create a tighter, more structured fabric for the ribbing at the hem and cuffs, while the larger US 15 needles produce the open, drapey stockinette fabric that makes up the main body and sleeves. This technique is common in garment knitting and helps achieve a polished, professional finish without complex shaping at the edges.

Yarn Details

Loopy Mango Summer Yarn is a chunky weight, 100% cotton yarn. Cotton is a natural fiber known for its breathability, stitch definition, and slight weight, which gives knitted garments a beautiful drape. Unlike wool, cotton does not have significant elasticity, which means gauge swatching is especially important to ensure accurate sizing. The chunky weight of this yarn means the cardigan knits up relatively quickly, making it an approachable project despite its intermediate rating.

Stitches Used

• 1x1 Ribbing — worked by alternating knit and purl stitches across each row (K1, P1 pattern). Ribbing creates a stretchy, textured fabric and is used at the hem and cuffs of the cardigan to provide structure and a neat edge.
• Stockinette Stitch — the classic knitting stitch created by knitting all stitches on right-side rows and purling all stitches on wrong-side rows. Stockinette produces a smooth, flat fabric on the knit side and is used for the main body and sleeves of the Rhinebeck Cardigan.

Techniques Used

• K2TOG (Knit Two Together) — a right-leaning decrease worked by inserting the needle through two stitches simultaneously and knitting them as one. Used in shaping the body panels.
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit) — a left-leaning decrease that mirrors K2TOG. Together, K2TOG and SSK create symmetrical shaping on either side of the fabric, a technique commonly used in garment construction to taper side seams and sleeve caps neatly.
• KFB (Knit Front and Back) — an increase stitch