Kerttu Cardigan

Kerttu Cardigan by Meiju Kallio

What is Being Made

The Kerttu Cardigan is a cropped, casual-fit cardigan designed by independent designer Meiju Kallio. This garment features a simple, elegant construction with drop shoulders and is available in nine sizes ranging from XS to 5XL. The cardigan is intentionally designed to be worn with a large amount of positive ease at the bust, creating a relaxed, comfortable silhouette. The cropped length can be easily modified by knitters who prefer a longer or shorter finished garment.

Construction Technique

The Kerttu Cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down, eliminating the need for seaming. The construction begins with small back neck extensions that simultaneously grow into button bands as the cardigan body is worked. This innovative approach integrates the button bands directly into the main knitting process, creating a polished, professional finish without additional finishing steps. The top-down, seamless construction method allows for easy customization of length during the knitting process, making it simple to adjust the final garment to personal preference.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Kerttu Cardigan is constructed primarily using stockinette stitch, a fundamental knitting stitch that creates a smooth, classic fabric with a distinctive V-pattern texture on the right side. Stockinette stitch is achieved by alternating knit stitches on right-side rows with purl stitches on wrong-side rows, producing the traditional appearance associated with many classic knitwear designs.

Materials

• Yarn: Filcolana Indiecita Solid, composed of 100% alpaca fiber. This yarn is available in 50-gram skeins with a yardage of 175 yards (160 meters) per skein. Yardage requirements vary by size: XS and S require 5 skeins or 770–880 yards; M requires 6 skeins or 975 yards; L requires 7 skeins or 1,075 yards; XL requires 7 skeins or 1,170 yards; 2XL requires 8 skeins or 1,260 yards; 3XL requires 8 skeins or 1,340 yards; 4XL requires 8 skeins or 1,400 yards; and 5XL requires 9 skeins or 1,480 yards.
• Yarn Weight: Sport weight yarn, a lightweight yarn category that creates delicate, drapey fabrics ideal for garments with a refined appearance.
• Needles: Specific needle size and type are referenced in the pattern materials section.

Skill Level

The Kerttu Cardigan is rated as an intermediate-level knitting project. While the stockinette stitch itself is fundamental, the seamless top-down construction and simultaneous button band integration require intermediate knitting skills and familiarity with techniques such as working in the round and managing multiple pattern elements concurrently.

Design Details

This pattern is the creation of designer Meiju Kallio, available through independent designer channels. The Kerttu Cardigan represents a modern approach to classic cardigan design, combining simplicity of stitch work with thoughtful construction techniques. The pattern is protected by copyright and is intended for personal use only.