Kaylie

Kaylie Cardigan by Jody Long

What Is Being Made

Kaylie is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan designed for children, available in five size options ranging from age 4 to 12 years. The cardigan features a fitted silhouette with precise measurements for chest width and length, making it suitable for layering or wearing as a standalone piece. This downloadable PDF pattern provides complete instructions for creating a polished, wearable garment.

Techniques Used

This design employs several intermediate knitting techniques that add visual interest and structural integrity to the finished cardigan. Cable knitting is a primary feature, requiring knitters to use cable needles to create twisted stitch patterns. The pattern includes multiple cable variations, demonstrating skill development in cable manipulation.

Pleating techniques are also incorporated into the design, specifically a Pleat Left (PL) maneuver that involves working with multiple cable needles simultaneously and twisting stitches to create dimensional folds in the fabric. This advanced stitch manipulation requires careful attention to stitch placement and order of operations.

Stitches Used

The Kaylie cardigan utilizes the following specialized stitch abbreviations and techniques:

• C4B (Cable 4 Back): Slip 2 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at back of work, knit 2 stitches, then knit 2 stitches from the cable needle
• C4F (Cable 4 Front): Slip 2 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at front of work, knit 2 stitches, then knit 2 stitches from the cable needle
• C6B (Cable 6 Back): Slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at back of work, knit 3 stitches, then knit 3 stitches from the cable needle
• C6F (Cable 6 Front): Slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at front of work, knit 3 stitches, then knit 3 stitches from the cable needle
• PL (Pleat Left): A complex technique involving two cable needles, stitch slipping, twisting, and knitting together to create pleated fabric texture

Materials Required

The Kaylie cardigan is designed to be worked in Woolcraft Double Crepe DK yarn in the shade Lipstick 07. Yardage requirements vary by size: age 4 requires 3 balls of 100g, age 6 requires 4 balls, age 8 requires 4 balls, age 10 requires 5 balls, and age 12 requires 6 balls of 100g yarn.

Knitters will need appropriately sized needles for DK-weight yarn, along with cable needles for executing the cable and pleat stitches throughout the pattern. The Double Crepe DK yarn provides a smooth, defined stitch definition that showcases the cable and pleating techniques effectively.

Sizing and Fit

The pattern offers five graduated sizes to accommodate children from age 4 through age 12 years. Chest measurements range from 68 cm (27 inches) for age 4 up to 88 cm (35 inches) for age 12. Length from shoulder to hem varies from 43 cm (17 inches) for the smallest size to 59 cm (23¼ inches) for the largest size. Sleeve seams range from 24 cm (9½ inches) to 39 cm (15½ inches), ensuring proper proportions across all size options.