Laera Cardigan

Laera Cardigan by Corrine Walcher

About This Design

The Laera Cardigan is a thoughtfully crafted knit design named to honor the fiber friends and knit night group members who inspired designer Corrine Walcher's journey into knitting and pattern design. This cardigan serves as a companion piece to the matching Laera top, making it a versatile addition to a coordinated wardrobe.

What Is Being Made

The Laera Cardigan is a bottom-up knit cardigan available in six sizes, with finished chest measurements ranging from 32 inches to 52 inches. The garment features decorative lace detailing at the hem, armholes, and neckline, creating an elegant and refined aesthetic. Sleeve circumference options range from 14.75 inches to 20.4 inches, and the cardigan length varies from 13 inches to 16 inches from the cast-on edge to the shoulder seam, accommodating different body proportions and style preferences.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

This intermediate-level cardigan is constructed using the bottom-up method, a traditional approach that begins at the lower edge and progresses upward toward the shoulders. The bottom-up construction method allows knitters to try on the garment as it develops and provides flexibility in final length adjustments. The design incorporates lace stitch work throughout, which requires attention to yarn overs, decreases, and pattern repeats to achieve the intended decorative effects.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The Laera Cardigan features lace stitching as a primary design element. Wide lace detailing appears at the hem, creating an openwork border that frames the cardigan's lower edge. Matching lace patterns are repeated at the armholes and neckline, providing visual continuity and a cohesive design aesthetic. The combination of lace sections with solid knit areas creates texture and visual interest throughout the garment.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn Weight: Fingering to sport weight yarn is suitable for this design. The pattern accommodates 3-ply, 4-ply, and sport weight options, offering flexibility in yarn selection.
• Yardage Requirements: Approximately 500 to 1000 yards of yarn is needed depending on size. The designer's sample in size 44 inches required 600 yards.
• Yarn Fiber Content: The sample cardigan was knit in an 80/20 merino and bamboo blend yarn, hand-dyed by Corrine Walcher, demonstrating the beautiful results possible with premium natural fibers.
• Needles: US #5/3.75mm circular needles measuring 32 inches or longer are required for this project. Knitters working on larger sizes may benefit from using longer circular needles to accommodate the increased stitch count comfortably.
• Additional Notions: Double-pointed needles in US #5/3.75mm are also needed for sections of the construction.

Skill Level

The Laera Cardigan is rated as an intermediate knitting project. This difficulty level reflects the lace stitch work required throughout the design, which demands familiarity with lace knitting techniques including yarn overs and decreases. Knitters should be comfortable reading lace charts and managing stitch counts across pattern repeats before beginning this project.