Keelin

Keelin Cardigan by Bonne Marie Burns

What is Being Made

Keelin is a sophisticated worsted weight cardigan designed by Bonne Marie Burns, featured in Chic Knits 5. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a refined garment available in seven sizes, ranging from 34 inches to 50 inches in finished chest measurement. The cardigan offers versatile length options, with finished lengths varying from 21 inches to 24 inches depending on size selection, making it suitable for different body proportions and styling preferences.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The Keelin cardigan employs fundamental knitting construction methods combined with strategic shaping techniques. The garment is worked from the bottom up, beginning with a ribbed edging created on smaller needles before transitioning to larger needles for the main body. The pattern incorporates decreasing techniques worked every 16th row, repeated four times, to achieve a tailored fit. The design maintains stitch pattern consistency throughout the shaping process, requiring knitters to decrease stitches while preserving the established stitch pattern. This intermediate-level approach demands attention to stitch manipulation and pattern continuity.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Keelin cardigan utilizes several essential knitting stitches. The foundation includes ribbed knit and purl stitches worked in alternating patterns to create the elastic edging. The main body is worked primarily in stockinette stitch, the most fundamental knitting stitch combining knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. The pattern also incorporates knit stitches through the back loop, a technique that creates a twisted stitch variation. Stitch markers are used throughout construction to help organize pattern sections and track decreases.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Keelin cardigan is designed for worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight classification ideal for creating structured garments with good drape and durability. Yarn yardage requirements scale with size: the smallest size (34 inches chest) requires 1085 yards, while the largest size (50 inches chest) requires 1900 yards. The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving proper finished measurements. Knitters will need two needle sizes: US #5 (3.75mm) needles for the ribbed edging and US #6 (4mm) needles for the main body. The cardigan closure requires seven 3/4-inch buttons. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern sections during construction.