Cloisonné Cardigan

Cloisonné Cardigan by Holli Yeoh

What is Being Made

The Cloisonné Cardigan is a seamless, top-down knitted cardigan designed to showcase a precious skein of ombré or gradient yarn. This intermediate-level knitting project features a decorative circular yoke created through slip-stitch colorwork techniques, with the ombré yarn inlayed between garter stitch borders to create a striking visual effect. The cardigan is available in four finished bust sizes ranging from 36 ¼ inches to 48 inches, intended to be worn with 1 to 3 inches of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.

Construction and Design Features

This cardigan is constructed seamlessly from the top down, beginning with the circular yoke and working downward to the body and sleeves. The signature design element is the decorative yoke, which uses a simple slip-stitched pattern to layer ombré yarn between garter stitch borders. This inlay technique creates a cloisonné-inspired effect—a reference to the decorative enameling technique where contrasting colors are separated by metal lines. The seamless construction eliminates the need for seaming, making this an elegant and efficient knitting approach.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Slip-stitch colorwork: A fundamental technique where stitches are slipped rather than knitted to create color patterns without carrying yarn across large distances
• Top-down construction: The garment is knitted from the neckline downward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments and the ability to try on the piece as you work
• Seamless knitting in the round: Using circular needles to create a continuous tube of fabric, eliminating the need for seaming
• Garter stitch: Created by knitting every row in the round, this textured stitch frames the ombré inlay sections
• Stockinette stitch: The smooth, classic stitch used for the body and sleeves
• Provisional cast-on: A temporary cast-on method (worked with a crochet hook) that allows stitches to be picked up later for button bands or other finishing details

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Cloisonné Cardigan employs a straightforward stitch vocabulary suitable for intermediate knitters. The primary stitches are stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows when working flat, or knit every round when working in the round) and garter stitch (knit every row, or alternating knit and purl rounds when working in the round). The decorative yoke is created using a slip-stitch colorwork pattern, which allows the ombré yarn to be inlayed between garter stitch borders without the complexity of stranded colorwork. This technique is more forgiving than traditional Fair Isle or stranded knitting, as it eliminates the need to manage multiple yarn colors simultaneously across the row.

Yarn and Materials

The Cloisonné Cardigan is designed to be knitted in aran and heavy worsted weight yarn. The pattern calls for 11 to 16 balls of Freia Fine Handpaint Semi-Solid Worsted (depending on size), which is a 100% wool yarn with 85 yards per 50-gram ball. The ombré or gradient effect is achieved using 1 ball of Freia Fine Handpaint Ombré, Worsted, which contains 127 yards per ball. This yarn choice is essential to the design, as the ombré yarn is the focal point of the decorative yoke.

Needles, Notions, and Tools

This project requires 4mm and 5mm (US 6 and US 8) circular needles, each at least 32 inches long, for working the body and yoke in the round. 4mm and 5mm double-pointed needles are also listed as an option for working the sleeves in the round. A 5mm (US H-8) crochet hook is needed for the provisional cast-on method. Additional notions include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping, stitch holders or waste yarn for holding stitches temporarily, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and grafting, and 9 buttons measuring ¾ inch (19 mm) for the front closure.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a