Catriona - Cardigan Knitting Pattern For Women in Debbie Bliss Erin Tweed by Debbie Bliss

Catriona Women's Cardigan Knitting Pattern by Debbie Bliss

The Catriona cardigan is a sophisticated, advanced-level women's knitting pattern by renowned designer Debbie Bliss, worked in her luxurious Debbie Bliss Erin Tweed yarn. This beautifully crafted cardigan brings together the timeless elegance of stranded colourwork with classic seamed construction, resulting in a garment with exceptional structure and a polished, professional finish. Available as a downloadable PDF, the pattern is sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements, from 82–87 cm (32–34 in) up to 122–127 cm (48–50 in), with finished chest measurements spanning 95 cm (37½ in) to 140 cm (55 in).

Garment Design and Dimensions

The Catriona cardigan is designed as a women's fitted-to-relaxed outer layer with a refined silhouette. The finished length to shoulder ranges from 55 cm (21¾ in) to 63 cm (24¾ in) depending on size, and the pattern features a consistent sleeve length of 45 cm (17¾ in) across all sizes. The cardigan is finished with buttons, added through neat buttonholes worked directly into the front bands, giving the piece a clean, tailored closure. The combination of rich tweed tones and colourwork detailing makes this cardigan a standout statement piece suitable for cooler seasons.

Techniques Used

As an advanced knitting pattern, Catriona calls upon a range of techniques that will challenge and reward experienced knitters:

• Stranded colourwork: The pattern incorporates multiple yarn colours worked simultaneously across rows, a technique where unused yarns are carried, or stranded, loosely across the wrong side of the fabric. This creates the characteristic richness and depth associated with traditional Fair Isle and Nordic-style knitwear. Managing tension evenly across stranded sections is key to achieving a smooth, professional result.
• Worked flat: The cardigan pieces are knitted flat, back and forth in rows on straight needles, rather than in the round. This is the traditional approach for seamed garments and allows for precise shaping on both right-side and wrong-side rows.
• Seamed construction: Individual pieces — typically the back, two fronts, and sleeves — are knitted separately and then joined using seaming techniques. Seamed garments are known for their durability and structured drape, and the seams themselves add stability to the finished cardigan.
• Buttonholes: Neat, functional buttonholes are worked into the front band, requiring careful placement and execution to ensure they align correctly with the chosen buttons and sit evenly along the opening edge.
• Make one (m1) increases: Shaping is achieved in part through m1 increases, worked by picking up and knitting into the back of the loop lying between stitches, creating a virtually invisible increase that keeps the fabric smooth.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) and purl (p) stitches form the foundation of the fabric, used in combination to create the main stitch pattern throughout the cardigan body and sleeves.
• Ribbing or similar textured edging stitches are typically used for welts, cuffs, and front bands in garments of this style, providing elasticity and a neat finish at all edges.
• Stranded colourwork sections involve working knit stitches in multiple colours across the same row, following a charted or written colour sequence to build up the decorative pattern.

Materials: Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The pattern is written specifically for Debbie Bliss Erin Tweed, a DK weight yarn available in 50g (1¾oz) balls. Erin Tweed is exclusively available at LoveCrafts.com. The colourwork palette draws on six carefully selected shades, giving the cardigan its rich, autumnal character:

• Camel 05 (A): 3 (4:4:4:5) balls — the primary background colour