What is a cardigan? How to knit a cardigan: diagrams, instructions

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:47

If you follow fashion trends, you may have wondered more than once: what is a cardigan? Is it a sweater, jacket or jacket? A cardigan is a type of knitted garment with a front closure: buttons, hooks, zippers, Velcro. Let's find out more about the hero of fashion chronicles.

What is a cardigan, where did the name come from

This item of clothing owes its appearance in its usual form to the English commander Bradnell James Thomas. Opinions are divided about exactly when this happened: some historians believe that he invented a jacket with a front closure to warm the uniforms of soldiers during the Crimean War. Others are of the opinion that Lord Cardigan began to wear this type of clothing much later, resting from military exploits in the countryside near Northamptonshire, which also did not differ in a particularly warm climate.

Some time this kind of sweater was part of the men's wardrobe. As part of the uniform, it was worn by students of prestigious colleges and universities. But over time, cardigans for women began to acquire allgreat popularity. World style icons - Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, Princess Diana - often used this elegant and comfortable type of clothing.

Rich choice

Do you know what a boyfriend cardigan or oversized cardigan is? Here are the options:

• Classic - Fine jersey, fitted, front button closure, V-neck or boat neckline.



• Slip-on, open front, chunky knit, also includes models with a belt.
• Striped or jacquard patterns are trendy modern variations.
• Boyfriend - characterized by a rough knit, brevity of details, loose fit.
• Cardigan-tunic - an elongated model to the middle of the thigh.
• Oversized - deliberately large, voluminous cardigan.
• With a shawl collar.
• Zipped.
• Asymmetrical hemline.

Now you will not be confused by the question of what is a cardigan and what are its types. Is it time to make sure that he appeared in your wardrobe?

How to knit a cardigan

Don't be afraid, there are models that are quite accessible to beginners. For example, you can knit a cardigan in the style of the 60s. It will go well with romantic skirts and high-waisted jeans. It is knitted on size 4, 5 and 6 needles, so work will progress quickly.

Description of work (size M)

Back and shelves

• Cast on 113 sts on circular needle size 4, 5. Tie 8 cm with an elastic band 1x1.
• Change needles to size 6 and work in stockinette st, inc 11 sts (sts) evenly on first row for a total of 124 sts
• To mark the shelves, put a marker after the first 30 sts, and after another 64 sts
• Keep going until this piece measures 25cm wide. Then dec two sts on each side of the marker.

Sleeves

• We also start with an elastic band, as well as on the torso. Cast on 34 sts and work with needles 4, 5. Then change to size 6 and inc 4 sts evenly for a total of 38 sts
• Inc every 4 cm 3 times 1 st after start and before end of row, total 44 sts
• When the piece is 40 cm high, knit 2 stitches, 40 stitches will remain on the needles
• This completes the work with the first sleeve, do the second in the same way.

Coquette and gathering

• Place the sleeves on the sides of the body. Open loops should be close. Combine them on one knitting needle, placing markers between the sleeves and the main part (4 pcs.). Now decrease to form a raglan:
• When 3 sts remain before marker, decrease 1 st, when 1 st is knitted after marker, knit 2 sts together again. So continue 18 rows, total 52 stitches
• Dec 1 - 51 sts - and work 3 cm in ribbing on needles 4, 5. Bind off.
• Now let's move on to finishing the shelves. You need to dial loops along their edges (2.5 cm=3 p.) To complete the cardigan. How it's done:



• Now work with rib (3cm) cast off.
• On the other part, knit a strip with holes for buttons: after 1.5 cm of the elastic band, make 5 holes with the help of crochets. On the next row, decrease in these places so that the total number of loops remains unchanged. Tie the elastic, close the edge, hide the threads, sew on the buttons - and the new thing is ready.

Gentle touch

Lace inserts add a touch of charm to this minimalistic style.

If you are a beginner, then carefully read the entire description before you start knitting this cardigan with knitting needles. The diagrams will make the job easier, but it's still a more complex project than the previous one.

Description given for size M. Work is carried out using needles No. 4, 5 and No. 5, 5. A smaller knitting tool will provide rigidity to the edges, they will not stretch in the sock, and a larger one will keep the softness of the knitted fabric in other parts of the product. Otherwise, you will end up with a very tight cardigan with knitting needles. Schemes for work:

• pattern:



• openwork pattern:

Back

• We start working with knitting needles No. 4, 5, so that the edge is tight and holds its shape well. Cast on 78 stitches and work in garter stitch 3 cm. Please note that the first and last row are purl.
• We take the knitting needles No. 5, 5 and then we work in stocking knitting until we reach the width of the part 38 cm. We finish the work on the wrong side.
• Make bevels for the sleeves, evenly reducing the loops along the edges:
• Row 1-4: cast off 4 sts each (70 sts remain), repeat the operation, but 2 sts each with the next 2 rows (66 sts).
• Row 5: 3 sts, 2tog, continue to last 5 sts, 2tog, last 3 sts, all knit.
• Row 6: same as above, but all purl.
• Row 7=row 5.
• Row 8 purl without decrease.
• Next, repeat Rows 7-8 3 times. 50 sts remain on needle, work in stockinette stitch until piece measures 53cm wide, finish on WS.
• Go to the cutout. We knit 13 p., Attach the second skein of yarn, close 24 p. And knit the remaining 13 p. We continue to work on both parts evenly. Decrease 1 st at the edges and knit to a piece width of 55 cm.
• Then close 4 sts at the beginning of the next two front rows. When 4 sts remain, they will also need to be cast off.

Left shelf

• With smaller needles cast on 37 sts, work in 3 cm garter st. Change tool and work stockinette stitch until piece measures 38 cm wide.
• Then we perform decreases for the bevel of the shoulder in the same way as the back. When the part reaches 46 cm in width, we complete the work with the front row.
• Because the cutout is deeper in the front, working on it is different from knitting the cutout in the back.
• Row 1, 3, 5 respectively: close 4, 3, 2 p. at the beginning. The rest we knit purl to the end
• Rows 2, 4 - knit sts
• Row 6: K to last 5 sts, 2 sts together, 3p.
• Row 7: Purl 3, 2tog to end of row.
• We knit and close the loops in the same way as on the previous part.
• The right shelf is made in the same way, but mirrored.

Sleeves

Ajour adds a twist to this cardigan. Carefully follow the knitting pattern of the pattern, try to pay special attention to this area so as not to go astray and avoid mistakes.

• Start with a garter stitch again, casting on 43 sts. After that, we pass to the front surface, making additions of 2 points every 10 cm (total 53 points). We continue to work until the part is 33 cm long. Then the formation of the shoulder begins in the same way as a series of 1-5 decreases in the back. Continue like this:
• Row 6: no decrease.
• Row 7=row 5
• Row 8: Purl.
• Rep rows 7-8 9 times for a total of 21 sts.
• Then finish the work on the sleeve like this: two rows of decreases (similar to rows 5-6 of the back); cast off 2 sts at the beginning of the next 4 rows; close the remaining 9 p.

Assembly

• Sew seams in this order: shoulders, sleeves, sides.
• Cast on 83 sts around neckline and work 2.5 cm in garter st.
• Shelves for buttons are made like this: cast on 82 sts along the edge of the canvas, make holes for the buttons: in the 4th row, close 2 sts where the holes will be, and subsequently add 2 sts. In total, you need to tie 8 rows.
• Hide the threads and enjoy your creation.