Sweet as Pi

Sweet as Pi Cardigan by Susanne Visch

What is Being Made

Sweet as Pi is a downloadable knitting pattern for a cardigan designed by Susanne Visch. This cardigan is worked in DK weight yarn and comes in multiple sizes, starting from newborn. The pattern creates a finished garment suitable for babies and young children, featuring a classic cardigan construction with button or closure details.

Craft and Primary Technique

This is a knitting pattern designed for knitters with intermediate skill level. Although the pattern is suitable for beginning knitters ready to expand their techniques, it introduces several finishing methods that elevate the construction beyond basic knitting. The cardigan demonstrates fundamental knitting principles combined with more advanced finishing approaches.

Techniques Used

The Sweet as Pi cardigan incorporates several key knitting techniques:

• Provisional cast on – a temporary cast-on method that allows stitches to be picked up later for seamless joining or special finishing
• I-cord bind off – a decorative edge finish that creates a rounded, cord-like border
• Regular i-cord – used as functional or decorative elements throughout the design
• Duplicate stitching – a surface embroidery technique worked over completed knitting, with a photo tutorial included in the pattern for guidance

These techniques combine to create a polished, professionally finished cardigan with special attention to edge details and embellishment options.

Stitches Used

The pattern uses a focused selection of essential knitting stitches:

• K (knit) – the fundamental knit stitch
• P (purl) – the reverse of the knit stitch
• Kfb (knit into the front and back) – an increase stitch that creates two stitches from one
• Slipped stitches – stitches passed from one needle to another without working them, used for edge definition and shaping
• K2tog (knit 2 stitches together) – a decrease stitch that combines two stitches into one

Materials

Yarn: The pattern calls for DK weight yarn in two colors – a main color (MC) and a contrast color (CC). Yarn quantities vary by size:

• Main Color: 150 (220, 290, 360) meters / 164 (241, 317, 394) yards
• Contrast Color: 65 (70, 80, 95) meters / 71 (77, 87, 104) yards

The sample cardigan shown in newborn size uses Wibra Bianca for the main color and Wibra Saskia for contrast accents. Both yarns are 100% acrylic with a yardage of 260 meters (284 yards) per 100 grams, making them economical choices for baby garments.

Needles: The pattern recommends:

• Circular needle measuring 80 cm (24 inches) in size 3.5 mm (US 5), or the size needed to obtain correct gauge
• Additional needles for small circumference work (specifics continued in full pattern)

The circular needle format allows for seamless knitting in the round or flat knitting with the flexibility to work different sections of the cardigan efficiently.