Mossy Bells

Mossy Bells Girl's Cardigan by Jen Johnson

What is Being Made

Mossy Bells is a seamless girl's cardigan designed by Jen Johnson, available in sizes 2 through 14. This knitted garment features a distinctive skirted bottom created through strategic short row shaping, giving the cardigan its characteristic bell-shaped silhouette. The design combines both functionality and visual interest, making it suitable for children across a wide age range with finished chest measurements ranging from 21½ inches up to 36 inches.

Design Features and Construction

The cardigan is constructed seamlessly from the top down, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, continuous fabric. The most distinctive design element is the use of short rows at the bottom that create bell shapes throughout the lower portion of the garment. These short row shaping techniques are also employed for the set-in sleeves, which are worked using the wrap and turn method to achieve a tailored fit. The skirted bottom adds volume and movement to the lower edge, while the overall construction remains relatively simple for an intermediate-level project.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This pattern utilizes fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for intermediate crafters. The primary stitch used is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric surface. The most notable technique featured in Mossy Bells is the short row shaping method, specifically the wrap and turn (W&T) technique. This method allows knitters to work back and forth over a limited number of stitches to create the bell shapes and set-in sleeve shaping without requiring complex stitch manipulation or color work. The seamless construction method means the cardigan is worked in the round where applicable, minimizing finishing work.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

Mossy Bells is an economical project requiring only one to two skeins of fingering weight yarn, making it an excellent choice for stash busting or trying new colorways without significant yarn investment. The pattern specifies fingering weight as the appropriate yarn weight, which creates a delicate, fitted fabric suitable for children's garments. While the PDF content does not specify needle size details on the provided pages, knitters should refer to the complete pattern for specific needle recommendations to achieve proper gauge with their chosen yarn.

Skill Level

Rated as an intermediate project, Mossy Bells requires knitters to be comfortable with basic knitting techniques and have experience with short row shaping. The wrap and turn method and seamless construction techniques are more advanced than beginner patterns but remain accessible to knitters with some experience under their belt. The "just a touch of texture" mentioned in the pattern description suggests minimal stitch complexity, keeping the focus on construction technique rather than intricate stitch patterns.