Fish Creek (Adult Version)

Fish Creek Adult Cardigan with Hood

What Is Being Made

The Fish Creek Adult Version is a full cardigan sweater with an optional hood, designed by Melissa Schaschwary of Dandiliongirl Designs. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a complete garment including a body, sleeves, and decorative hood option. The cardigan features button closures and is available in four sizes ranging from Small (32–34 inches chest) to Extra Large (44–46 inches chest).

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques. The garment construction begins with garter stitch for the foundation rows, providing a textured, reversible base. Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric of the sweater body and sleeves, creating a smooth, classic knit appearance. The pattern incorporates raglan shaping, a construction method that decreases stitches strategically to create sloped armholes and well-fitted sleeves. The hood is constructed using a combination of knit and purl stitches to create textured panels, and sleeves are worked in the round using either double-pointed needles or the magic loop method on a circular needle.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Garter stitch: Used for the initial foundation rows and creates a ridged, elastic edge
• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch pattern forming the main body and sleeves, worked flat for the body and in the round for the arms
• Knit and purl combinations: The hood features alternating knit and purl stitches in a structured pattern, with purl stitches creating vertical lines and textural interest (P6 and K6 sections are repeated throughout the hood rows)
• Cable techniques: A cable needle is required, indicating the presence of cable stitches within the design for added visual texture and dimension

Materials and Gauge

The Fish Creek cardigan is worked in bulky weight yarn, which creates a quick-knitting, cozy garment. Yardage requirements range from 680 yards for the smallest size (Small) to 980 yards for the largest size (Extra Large), accounting for the complete sweater including hood and sleeves. The pattern is worked on US size 13 circular needles (24 inches) for the body and US size 13 double-pointed needles or longer circular needles using the magic loop method for knitting the sleeves in the round. A cable needle is needed for cable stitch work. The gauge is 3 stitches and 4 rows over one inch in stockinette stitch, which is typical for bulky weight yarn and contributes to the garment's quick completion time. Additional materials include buttons for closure and a darning needle for weaving in ends.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern assumes knitters are comfortable with basic stitches, shaping techniques, and working in the round. The raglan construction and cable work require attention to stitch counts and pattern repeats, making it suitable for knitters with foundational experience who are ready to tackle more structured garment construction.