Losanna Cardigan in Adriafil Melodia - Downloadable PDF

Losanna Cardigan Knitting Pattern in Adriafil Melodia — Free Downloadable PDF

The Losanna Cardigan is a beautifully structured, colourwork knitting pattern worked in Adriafil Melodia chunky yarn. This free downloadable PDF pattern produces a classic, cosy cardigan featuring a striking jacquard colourwork design across the body and sleeves, finished with neat garter stitch edges. The pattern is sized for a Size 44 (42–46), making it a versatile project for knitters looking to create a stylish, warm layering piece.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a full drop-shoulder style cardigan with set-in sleeve shaping, a structured yoke, and a shaped neckline. The cardigan is constructed in separate pieces — a back, a right front, a left front, and two sleeves — which are then seamed together. The design features a colourwork jacquard panel as its centrepiece, giving the cardigan a rich, textured visual appeal that is characteristic of traditional European knitwear styling.

Garment Construction and Shaping Details

The cardigan is worked flat in individual pieces using knitting needles size 5. Each piece begins with a garter stitch edge before transitioning into the main jacquard knitted stitch pattern. Key shaping details include:

• Back: Cast on and work the garter stitch border, then continue in jacquard knitted stitch following the colour chart. Sleeve hole shaping is worked at the appropriate measurement, and the yoke is shaped thereafter.
• Right Front: Cast on 35 (33–37) stitches in cream yarn and work the garter stitch edge before continuing in jacquard knitted stitch. Sleeve hole shaping begins at 27 (26–28) cm from the edge. At 31 (29–33) cm, yoke and neckline shaping begin simultaneously using a tuck technique — a distinctive structural detail where stitches are worked in sections to create a neat, folded neckline edge. Decreases are worked centrewise every 6 rows a total of three times. After the sleeve hole shaping, remaining stitches are picked up and worked in jacquard knitted stitch for a further 10.5 (10–11) cm before binding off.
• Left Front: Worked as a mirror image of the right front to ensure symmetry.
• Sleeves: Cast on 32 (29–35) stitches in cream yarn, work the garter stitch border, then continue in alternating colours following the jacquard chart. Side increases of 1 stitch every 6 rows are worked 12 times to shape the sleeve. When the sleeve measures 42 (40–44) cm from the edge, armhole shaping begins with bind-offs on each side every 2 rows.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs a range of knitting techniques that make it an engaging project for intermediate to confident knitters:

• Jacquard colourwork knitting: The primary decorative technique, worked by following a colour chart and using one separate ball of yarn for each colour section. Unworked yarn threads are carried across the back of the work and crossed at each colour change to maintain an even gauge — a standard stranded or intarsia-style approach depending on the section.
• Garter stitch edging: Used on all pieces to create a firm, non-curling border at the cast-on edge.
• Tuck shaping: A distinctive neckline shaping method where stitches are worked in partial rows and then stood off to create a structured, folded tuck effect at the yoke and neckline junction.
• Side increases and armhole bind-offs: Standard shaping techniques used on the sleeves and body to achieve a well-fitted silhouette.
• Crochet finishing: A crochet hook size 3.50 is referenced in the materials, indicating that crochet is used for finishing details such as edging or seaming.
• Seaming with tapestry needle: A tapestry needle is used to join the finished pieces together.