Budded Vine Cardigan in Cascade Yarns Friday Harbor - W747 - Downloadable PDF

Budded Vine Cardigan in Cascade Yarns Friday Harbor – Pattern W747 by Melissa Leapman

The Budded Vine Cardigan is a beautifully textured knitted cardigan designed by Melissa Leapman and published by Cascade Yarns as pattern W747. This intermediate-level knitting pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF and creates a sophisticated, feminine cardigan featuring an elegant combination of cable and textural stitch patterns. The design is worked in five sizes — Small, Medium, Large, 1X, and 2X — with finished bust measurements ranging from 34 inches up to 47½ inches (buttoned), making it a versatile pattern for a wide range of knitters. The total length of the finished garment measures approximately 22 to 23 inches depending on the size chosen.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Cascade Yarns Friday Harbor, a luxurious worsted weight yarn with a fiber composition of 80% Merino Wool and 20% Silk. Each skein contains 100 grams (3.5 oz) and 220 yards (200 meters). The featured colorway is #14 Walnut, a rich, warm neutral tone that beautifully showcases the intricate stitch textures of the design. Depending on the size being knitted, the pattern requires 5 to 8 skeins of this yarn. The blend of Merino Wool and Silk gives the finished cardigan a soft, lustrous drape that enhances the visual depth of the cable and textural panels.

In addition to yarn, knitters will need the following materials:

• US 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles — or size needed to obtain gauge
• US 8 (5.0 mm) knitting needles — or size needed to obtain gauge
• A cable needle for working the cable and bud panel stitches
• Stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping
• A yarn needle for seaming and finishing
• Three 1-inch buttons for the cardigan closure

Gauge

Achieving accurate gauge is essential for this pattern. The gauge is 18 stitches by 26 rows equal 4 inches (10 cm) worked in Reverse Stockinette Stitch using the larger US 8 needles. Additionally, the Bud Panel measures 2½ inches across. As with any fitted garment, knitters are strongly encouraged to swatch and check gauge carefully before beginning.

Stitches and Techniques

The Budded Vine Cardigan showcases a rich combination of classic and decorative knitting techniques that give it its distinctive textured appearance. The primary background stitch is Reverse Stockinette Stitch, which creates a purl-side fabric that serves as a beautiful backdrop for the raised cable and bud details. This contrast between the smooth, receding background and the raised foreground stitches is a hallmark of well-designed cable knitting.

Key stitches and techniques used in this pattern include:

• Reverse Stockinette Stitch — the main background fabric, worked by purling on the right side and knitting on the wrong side
• Twisted Rib Pattern — used for ribbed edgings and borders, adding structure and elasticity to the cuffs, hem, and button bands
• Bud Panel — a signature decorative cable panel that runs vertically through the design, creating the namesake budded vine effect
• Cable knitting — worked with a cable needle to cross stitches and create the vine and bud motifs
• Standard knitting construction techniques including cast on, bind off, and seaming

The use of two needle sizes is intentional: the smaller US 7 needles are typically used for ribbed edgings and borders to create a tighter, more structured fabric, while the larger US