Batiquitos Cardigan

Batiquitos Cardigan by Irina Anikeeva

What is Being Made

The Batiquitos Cardigan is a women's knitted cardigan designed by Irina Anikeeva. This garment is available in five size options ranging from XS to 4XL, with finished bust circumferences from 42 inches (105 cm) up to 70 inches (175 cm). The cardigan features a sophisticated lace pattern integrated into its design and is intended to be worn with 11 to 16 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Construction Technique

The Batiquitos Cardigan is worked flat in one piece from the bottom up to the underarms, allowing for efficient construction and seamless integration of stitch patterns. Once the body reaches the underarm point, the front panels and back are worked separately to accommodate shaping at the shoulders. The shoulder seams are then joined using the 3-Needle Bind Off technique, which creates a sturdy, professional finish. After the main body is complete, the cuffs are picked up from the existing stitches and worked circularly, providing a finished edge with consistent tension.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

This intermediate-level cardigan incorporates multiple stitch techniques to create visual interest and structure. The primary stitch used throughout much of the garment is Stockinette Stitch, which provides a smooth, classic fabric base. The design is distinguished by a 22-stitch Lace pattern repeat that measures 3¾ inches (9.5 cm) across when worked on the specified needles and after blocking. Knitters are encouraged to use stitch markers between chart repeats to maintain pattern accuracy and make counting easier during construction.

Yarn and Materials

The Batiquitos Cardigan is designed to be worked in DK weight yarn, which provides a balanced fabric weight suitable for a versatile layering piece. Yarn requirements vary by size, ranging from approximately 1300 yards for the smallest size (XS) to 2150 yards for the largest size (4XL). The pattern specifies US 6/4 mm needles for working the main fabric, with gauge measured at 24 stitches and 32 rows equaling 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch after blocking. The lace pattern gauge is also provided at 22 stitches measuring 3¾ inches (9.5 cm) on the same needle size after blocking, ensuring consistent sizing across all pattern repeats.

Difficulty Level

Rated as an intermediate project, the Batiquitos Cardigan is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to work with lace patterns and multi-step construction techniques. The combination of flat and circular knitting, along with the lace pattern integration and 3-Needle Bind Off shoulder seaming, requires comfort with intermediate techniques but remains accessible to experienced beginners.