Keep it Classic with the Turtle Dove Cardigan

There’s just something about a basic cardigan that is cozy and classic. It’s great to wear as a top layer when there’s a bit of a chill in the air or to keep handy when it’s colder inside than you would like.

The Turtle Dove Cardigan by Melissa Clulow for Sonder Yarn Co. is said to be inspired by a pullover of the same name (though I can’t find it on the designer’s Ravelry page, so if you have any intel on the pullover version, do let me know and I’ll update). It uses two strands of mohair held together with a smooth wool fingering weight yarn, which gives the whole thing a DK weight.

But because the fuzziness of the mohair needs a little room to breathe, it’s knit on larger needles than you typically would use for a DK weight project, which means it will knit up faster than you expect, too.

It’s worked from the top down, mostly in stockinette stitch, with twisted rib at the collar, cuffs and bands. It does not have buttons but is meant to be worn open with 12-14 inches (30.5-35.5 cm) of positive ease. It has deep raglan shaping for ease of layering and extra comfort, and the collar can stand up flat or fold over a bit if you like that look.

The sleeves are not full length in the pattern as written but it would be easy to adjust that (as well as the full length of the sweater) if you want more coverage. You could also choose a size that provides you with less positive ease if you want a more tailored look.

The pattern is available in nine sizes, with a finished bust measurement ranging from 44.75 to 76.75 inches, or 112 to 192 cm.

The Turtle Dove Cardigan pattern was originally published in Laine magazine and you can now get the pattern free on Ravelry.

[Photo: Sonder Yarn Co.]

Free Pattern – Long Cable Knit Cardigan

Easy Cardigan Knitting Patterns

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If you want a brief introduction to most of the things you might want to learn about when learning to knit, Everyday Knitting by Megan Goodacre has you covered.

It talks about everything from yarn weights and needle types to casting on, knitting, purling and binding off. You’ll find tutorials for basic increases and decreases, colorwork, cables and lace, tips for reading patterns and charts and plenty of patterns to practice your new skills.

The biggest part of the book is these tutorials, with a couple of beginner practice patterns (a garter stitch washcloth and a knit and purl chevron coaster) found toward the beginning of the book, another chapter with four more patterns is in the middle, and the rest of the patterns are at the back of the book.

Skill ratings are on a scale of one to five, which don’t correspond to the standard skill levels (which is a scale of four). For example, a pair of Fair Isle style fingerless mitts worked in the round is a skill level five on her scale, but would probably be a two on a standard project level chart. Three of the patterns (aside from the ones scattered through the book) don’t have skill ratings listed.

Of those that do, two are rated one, three each are levels two, three and four, and two are level five. The other five rating goes to a woman’s sized raglan sweater with a textured panel on the front but that’s mostly stockinette stitch. I think the three patterns that aren’t rated would be level two, but I can’t understand the thinking that went into the rating system.

In addition to the patterns there’s a gallery of knitting stitches you can add to your projects.

Lots of photos illustrate the tutorials, but there are only one or two pictures each of the finished projects in the pattern section.

There are definitely things about this book that annoyed me (not teaching about holding the yarn in your left hand until 37 pages after holding yarn in the right hand is introduced, saying seed stitch and moss stitch are the same thing, etc.) but for basic, general information on how to knit all in one place, it’s a pretty good guide.

About the book: 272 pages, paperback, 22 patterns. Published 2024 by DK Publishing. Suggested retail price $24.99.

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