Bridal knit cardigan with cord

Bridal Knit Cardigan with Cord by Beemohr

What is Being Made

This is a bridal knit cardigan featuring a delicate cord detail, designed as an elegant layering piece perfect for wedding celebrations. The cardigan is available in five sizes ranging from XS to XL, making it accessible for various body types. The design emphasizes a refined, classic aesthetic suitable for formal occasions while maintaining versatility for everyday luxury wear.

Techniques Used

The cardigan construction employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques that create both structural integrity and visual interest. Ribbed edging is worked first to create a stretchy, finished border that frames the garment. Stockinette stitch forms the main fabric body, providing a smooth, elegant surface. Raglan armhole shaping is used to create fitted sleeves that decrease gradually from the body, a technique that requires careful stitch management and decreases worked symmetrically on both sides.

Selvage stitches are maintained at the edges of every row to ensure neat, finished side seams. Strategic increases are incorporated every 10 rows along the sides during the body section to create subtle shaping. Double decreases (using ssk and k2tog methods) are worked during the raglan shaping to create smooth, angled armholes. The cardigan features a split neckline that is worked using two separate balls of yarn, allowing for independent shaping of each shoulder and front section.

Stitches Used

• Rib Pattern: Alternating knit and purl stitches in a 1x1 or 2x2 configuration (rows 1 and 2 repeated) to create the elastic border
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): Knit on right-side rows and purl on wrong-side rows, forming the primary smooth fabric
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used on right-side rows for raglan shaping
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used on right-side rows for balanced raglan decreases
• Bind Off (BO): Used to secure stitches at the beginning of armhole shaping
• Selvage Stitches: The first and last stitch of every row, knitted to maintain neat edges

Materials and Tools

This project requires two sizes of knitting needles to achieve proper gauge and fabric texture: smaller needles are used for the ribbed cuff sections, while larger needles are switched to for the stockinette body. The pattern specifies working with yarn in quantities appropriate for each size, with the bridal colorway shown in ivory. Stitch markers are used to mark key positions at the first and last stitches during raglan shaping, helping track decreases and maintain symmetry. The cord detail mentioned in the cardigan name adds a refined finishing touch to this bridal piece.

Pattern Structure and Sizing

The pattern is organized by garment sections, beginning with the back panel. Cast-on numbers vary by size: 80 stitches for XS/S, increasing to 122 stitches for XL, accommodating the full range of finished measurements. The ribbed pattern section spans 6 rows before transitioning to stockinette stitch. Body length measurements progress from approximately 8.7 inches (22cm) for smaller sizes to accommodate the proportional increases in larger sizes. Armhole depth ranges from 14.2 inches (36cm) for XS/S to 18.1 inches (46cm) for XL, with corresponding row counts provided for gauge reference.