Wrap Cardigan Knitting Pattern

I’ve knit a lot of different kinds of sweaters in my years as a knitter (and am actually crocheting my first sweater right now!) but I have never made a wrap cardigan before.

This style of sweater is typically made with triangular fronts that overlap each other. The fronts can be tied together at the bottom of one side, or you could probably use a button on the bottom layer and put a buttonhole in the top layer to close it. It gives a sort of V-neck look that’s easy and cozy to wear.

The style is often associated with ballerinas, but of course it’s something anyone can wear.

The Clairlea Cardigan by Laura Chau is worked from the top down in one piece using a twisted stitch pattern on the body. It has drop sleeves that are worked in the round after the body is knit, and an I-cord edging that becomes the ties at the waist.

It’s worked in worsted weight yarn and available in 10 sizes, ranging from a chest measurement of 32.75 to 67.75 inches. The pattern includes charts as well as row by row written directions, so you can make it either way (or use the pattern to practice your chart reading.

The pattern is available on Ravelry.

[Photo: Laura Chau.]

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I know knitting a dress sounds like a major time commitment. And that’s before I even tell you that this particular dress, the Sixth Ave Skater Dress by Briana Luppino, is worked in light fingering weight yarn.

But would you just take a moment to look at it and tell me if it doesn’t look like it would be worth all the time you would spend knitting it? And it’s miles of stockinette stitch so it’s actually beginner friendly and a great semi-mindless knit you can take with you on your travels this summer and wear when it is done.

The dress is worked from the top down with tank straps, a scoop neck, waist shaping and a flowy skirt for a fun and comfortable fit.

The pattern has 10 sizes, with finished bust measurements ranging from 28 to 64 inches, or 71.5 to 163 cm. The sample shown was worked with 4 inches/10 cm of negative ease at the bust, and the designer says most people like between 2 and 6 inches/5 to 15 cm of negative ease in the bust and around 10 inches/25.4 cm positive ease in the hips.

(To refresh your memory, negative ease means the measurement of the garment is smaller than your actual body measurement, while positive ease is bigger than your body.)

To pick a size you’d work from the bust measurement because you can always add more or fewer decreases as you need to get your desired fit at the waist and hips. And because it’s worked from the top down you can try it on as often as you like to make sure it’s the perfect fit.

The I-cord edgings give the dress a super casual feel, and I think this would be a great one to add to your summer rotation. (Yes, even with a wool blend yarn.)

You can see lots of cute finished versions and grab a copy of the pattern for yourself on Ravelry.

[Photo: Briana Luppino]

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