Glacier Cardigan

Glacier Cardigan by Kari-Helene Rane

What is Being Made

The Glacier Cardigan is a chunky-weight knitted cardigan jacket designed by independent designer Kari-Helene Rane. This garment is available in five sizes ranging from XS to XL, with bust measurements from 73 cm (29 inches) to 112 cm (44 inches), making it suitable for a wide range of body types. The cardigan features a classic construction with sleeves and an upper body worked as integrated pieces, creating a cohesive, professionally finished garment.

Craft and Techniques

This project is a knitting design classified as beginner-level, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to cardigan construction or those seeking to expand their skills with a structured outerwear piece. The pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques that build confidence while creating a wearable, high-quality finished object.

The cardigan utilizes several key knitting methods:

• Knitted cast-on creates the foundation stitches with an integrated decorative edge
• Moss stitch edging provides a textured, finished border that frames the garment
• Stocking stitch forms the primary fabric structure, creating a smooth, classic knit appearance
• Circular needles with long cords allow for seamless working of large pieces and easier stitch management
• Fastening and finishing techniques using a blunt tapestry needle ensure secure, invisible seams and professional edge treatment

Stitches Used

The Glacier Cardigan employs two primary stitch patterns:

• Moss stitch – an alternating knit and purl pattern that creates a textured, reversible fabric used for the cast-on edge rows, providing visual interest and a secure, non-curling border
• Stocking stitch – the foundational stitch pattern created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing the smooth, classic appearance that dominates the cardigan's body and sleeves

Materials and Gauge

The Glacier Cardigan is worked in Purl Alpaca Chunky, a luxurious 100% English alpaca yarn that provides exceptional warmth and softness. This yarn is supplied in 100-gram balls, each containing 74 meters of yardage. The pattern requires 10 to 15 balls depending on size, with the sample shown photographed in the shade Alpaca Light.

The recommended needles are 7 mm and 8 mm circular knitting needles with long cords. The pattern is worked to a tension of 11 stitches and 15 rows to a 10-centimeter square using the 8 mm needles over stocking stitch. This tension measurement was taken after light steaming to relax the yarn. Knitters should swatch and adjust needle size as necessary to achieve the correct tension, ensuring proper fit and fabric drape.

Additional notions required include a blunt tapestry needle for fastening ends and weaving in yarn tails, completing the professional finishing of the garment.