360 Josephine Cardigan - Knitting Pattern for Women in Valley Yarns Northampton Bulky

360 Josephine Cardigan: Knitting Pattern Overview

What is Being Made

The 360 Josephine Cardigan is a women's cardigan sweater designed by Kirsten Hipsky, available in five finished sizes ranging from 36" to 52" in circumference. This is a classic button-front cardigan construction featuring a prominent cable motif as a central design element.

Construction Technique

This cardigan is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, meaning each piece is knitted separately and then seamed together at the end. The pattern uses a modular construction approach where the back piece is worked first, then the front and sleeve pieces are picked up from the edges of the completed back section. This pickup method creates seamless transitions between major garment sections and is a hallmark of sophisticated cardigan design.

Cable Work and Stitch Details

The signature design element of the Josephine Cardigan is its cable pattern, which is worked between stitch markers on the center back and left front sections. The cable motif follows a 24-row repeat chart that creates dimensional texture and visual interest. The cables are integrated into a stockinette stitch background, with ribbed edgings worked in a k2, p2 ribbing pattern. This ribbing appears at the cuffs and front bands, providing elasticity and a polished finish to the garment edges.

The pattern includes strategic increases worked at the beginning of right-side rows to shape the garment, with decreases worked evenly across certain sections to achieve proper fit. Stitches are bound off in ribbing to create a neat, professional edge.

Yarn and Materials

The 360 Josephine Cardigan is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Northampton Bulky, a chunky-weight yarn. This substantial yarn weight allows the cable details to stand out prominently while enabling relatively quick project completion compared to lighter yarn weights. The bulky yarn creates a warm, cozy fabric suitable for a classic cardigan silhouette.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. Knitters should be comfortable with cable techniques, reading charts, working with stitch markers, picking up stitches from finished edges, and seaming garment pieces together. The combination of cable work and garment shaping makes this an excellent project for knitters looking to expand their skills beyond basic sweater construction.

Size Range

The pattern accommodates five different finished bust measurements: 36", 40", 44", 48", and 52", allowing for customization to fit various body types and preferred wearing ease.