Hjorki hooded cardigan

Hjorki Hooded Zip Front Cardigan by Hazel Tindall

What is Being Made

The Hjorki hooded cardigan is a unisex Fair Isle zipped cardigan designed by Hazel Tindall. This advanced knitting project features a shaped hood, two front pockets, and a zip front closure. The pattern is available in three sizes and is presented as a downloadable PDF format. The garment showcases traditional knitting construction techniques with a modern, functional design suitable for both men and women.

Construction and Techniques

Most of the Hjorki cardigan, including the hood, is knitted in the round, eliminating the need for seams and creating a seamless finish. The construction follows traditional methods with straight sides, while the sleeves are knitted from the top down. A distinctive feature of this pattern is that the hood is knitted first, then washed and blocked before completing the rest of the garment. This approach serves a practical purpose: it allows the knitter to become familiar with the colour sequence, verify that tension is correct, and practice all the techniques required to finish the entire garment before committing to the larger project.

The Fair Isle colourwork uses only two colours in each round, making the pattern more manageable than multi-colour alternatives. The patterns are organized in panels, with the colours used for the prominent 'clock keys' motif determining the colours used throughout the other panels. This coordinated approach ensures visual harmony across the finished cardigan.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round
• Fair Isle colourwork
• Top-down sleeve construction
• Seamless garment construction
• Blocking and finishing techniques
• Zip insertion

Materials

The Hjorki cardigan is knitted in undyed Shetland Supreme Jumper weight yarn, which provides a natural, neutral base for the Fair Isle colourwork. The pattern requires appropriate knitting needles suitable for Jumper weight yarn and the specified gauge. Photographs in the pattern show size 2 as the example garment.

Difficulty Level

This is an advanced knitting pattern designed for experienced knitters. The combination of Fair Isle colourwork, seamless in-the-round construction, and multiple techniques requires solid foundational skills and comfort with colour work and garment shaping.