Samovar

Samovar Cardigan by Laura Chau

Garment Overview

Samovar is an easygoing lace rib cardigan designed by Laura Chau as a seamless, bottom-up knit in worsted weight yarn. This close-fitting cardigan features raglan shaping and a crew neck, offering a sophisticated yet relaxed silhouette. The design is intended to be worn with minimal ease (0–2 inches / 0–5 centimeters), making it essential to choose a finished size based on your high bust measurement rather than full bust. The cardigan is available in eleven sizes, ranging from 29.5 inches to 56.75 inches in finished bust circumference (75–144 centimeters).

Construction and Shaping Techniques

The Samovar cardigan is worked seamlessly from the bottom up, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a polished, professional finish. Raglan shaping is used to create the armholes and sleeve cap, a technique that distributes increases evenly across the front, back, and sleeves for a balanced fit. Waist shaping is achieved through strategic decreases and increases worked into stockinette side panels, allowing for a tailored silhouette without compromising the integrity of the lace rib pattern. The simple ribbed edgings at the neckline, button bands, and cuffs provide classic finishing touches that frame the garment neatly.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Stockinette Stitch: Used for the main body and long sleeves, creating a smooth, refined fabric base
• Lace Rib: Featured as an accent panel on the long sleeves and integrated into the body, adding visual interest and texture
• Ribbing: Applied to edgings including the neckline, button bands, and sleeve cuffs for a secure, elastic finish

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Samovar is designed for worsted weight yarn, making it a quick knit suitable for experienced knitters seeking an efficient project. The pattern sample was knitted using Dream in Color Classy, a superwash merino wool yarn offering 250 yards (229 meters) per 4-ounce (115-gram) skein. Superwash merino provides excellent drape, softness, and easy care—a practical choice for a cardigan intended for regular wear. Knitters should select needles appropriate for their chosen worsted weight yarn, typically in the US 7–9 range, though needle size should be determined by achieving the pattern's specified gauge.

Difficulty Level

Samovar is classified as an advanced knitting pattern, reflecting the seamless construction, raglan shaping, and lace rib integration required to complete the project successfully. While the individual stitches are not complex, the combination of techniques—managing multiple stitch patterns, executing waist shaping, and working seamlessly in the round—demands solid foundational skills and the ability to read and interpret a detailed schematic.