Scarlett Cardigan

Scarlett Cardigan by Fluffy Su Don

What is Being Made

The Scarlett Cardigan is a seamless, top-down knitted cardigan designed for infants and young children. This pattern offers six size options ranging from 6/9 months through 9/10 years, with chest circumferences from 54cm to 74cm and back lengths from approximately 33cm to 48cm. The cardigan features button closure and is constructed using a combination of flat and circular knitting techniques for an efficient, minimal-seam construction.

Construction and Techniques

The Scarlett Cardigan employs a top-down, seamless construction method that begins at the neckline and works downward. The pattern uses a strategic division point where the piece separates into the body and sleeves. The body is worked flat using circular needles, allowing for easy shaping and stitch manipulation across the front and back panels. The sleeves are worked in the round using double-pointed needles, which creates a seamless tube and eliminates the need for seaming at the underarm.

This top-down approach offers several advantages for knitters: it allows for easy fitting adjustments during construction, eliminates the need for complex seaming, and provides a professional finish. The use of stitch holders and markers helps organize stitches during the division process and maintains pattern consistency throughout the project.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Scarlett Cardigan incorporates a variety of fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches and techniques:

• Stocking Stitch – The primary stitch pattern, creating a smooth, classic fabric texture
• Knit and Purl stitches – Basic stitches forming the foundation of the design
• K2TOG (Knit 2 Together) – A right-leaning decrease used for shaping
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit) – A left-leaning decrease for balanced shaping
• Yarn Over (YO) – Creates decorative eyelets or lace elements
• M1L and M1R (Make 1 Left and Make 1 Right) – Increases that add stitches while maintaining pattern continuity
• M1A (Make 1 Away) – An additional increase variation for shaping
• Cable techniques – Including C2L (Cable 2 Left), which involves slipping stitches onto a cable needle for textured, twisted effects

These stitches work together to create shaping at the waist, armholes, and sleeve caps, while cable elements add visual interest and texture to the finished garment.

Yarn and Materials

The Scarlett Cardigan is designed to be worked in DMC Knitty 4, a yarn weight suitable for creating garments with good drape and structure for children's clothing. The yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 400m for the smallest size (6/9 months) to 900m for the largest size (9/10 years). Skein requirements range from 2 skeins for the two smallest sizes to 4 skeins for the largest size.

The pattern calls for circular needles in 40/60cm length for working the body flat, and double-pointed needles in 3mm and 4mm sizes for the sleeves worked in the round. The gauge is 24 stitches by 32 rows over 10cm in stocking stitch on 4mm needles, which is essential for achieving proper fit in the finished cardigan.

Additional notions required include 1.5cm buttons for the front closure, stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping points, stitch holders to temporarily secure stitches during construction, and a cable needle for working the cable stitch elements. Achieving the correct gauge before beginning is crucial for ensuring the cardigan fits properly across all six size options.

Difficulty Level

The Scarlett Cardigan is rated as a beginner-friendly pattern, making it accessible to knitters new to garment construction. While the pattern incorporates various shaping techniques and stitch variations, the straightforward top-down construction method simplifies the building process and allows beginners to learn essential skills in a supportive structure.