The Emily Brent Cardigan

The Emily Brent Cardigan by Robin Hunter

What is Being Made

The Emily Brent Cardigan is a classic, timeless cardigan featuring a sophisticated cable stitch pattern. This knitted garment offers a refined silhouette with integrated bands that flow seamlessly from the body without an obvious border at the bottom edge. The cardigan is available in six finished bust sizes ranging from 36 to 48.5 inches (91.5 to 123 cm), making it suitable for a variety of body measurements. Optional waist shaping instructions are included for customized fit.

Construction and Techniques

The Emily Brent Cardigan is constructed using a bottom-up knitting method, with all sections worked from the hem upward. The garment features a classic set-in sleeve construction, providing a traditional, well-fitted sleeve cap. The integrated band design eliminates the need for a separate border application, creating a cohesive, professional finish throughout the piece.

This pattern requires several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques. Knitters must be proficient with cable cast-on methods to establish a secure foundation. The construction demands skill in maintaining stitch patterns while simultaneously working increases and decreases, a technique essential for shaping the body and sleeves. Picking up stitches is required for the integrated band sections, and knitters must be comfortable with proper casting off methods to finish edges neatly.

Stitch Patterns and Details

The distinctive feature of the Emily Brent Cardigan is its unusual cable stitch pattern. Rather than traditional cables worked over a reverse stockinette background, these cables are created using garter stitch within a field of stockinette stitch, creating striking visual contrast. The stitch pattern is remarkably efficient and easy to memorize, with a ten-row repeat containing only three different rows. This streamlined pattern design makes the cardigan accessible despite its advanced difficulty rating, as knitters need not reference the pattern constantly once the repeat is established.

The pattern employs standard knitting stitches including knit and purl stitches as foundational elements, with cable stitches as the primary decorative feature. Increases and decreases are incorporated throughout for shaping, requiring knitters to maintain pattern integrity while working these shaping techniques.

Materials and Specifications

The Emily Brent Cardigan is designed for DK weight yarn, a versatile yarn weight that produces a fabric with excellent drape and definition for stitch patterns. The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when working the cable rib stitch pattern. Knitters will require appropriate needles sized to achieve this gauge with their chosen DK weight yarn, as well as a cable needle for working the cable stitches throughout the pattern.

Skill Level and Experience

While the product attributes indicate an advanced difficulty level, the pattern itself notes intermediate experience as the required level. This cardigan is suitable for knitters who have progressed beyond basic stockinette and garter stitch projects and are comfortable with cable work, shaping techniques, and pattern reading. The straightforward ten-row repeat and logical construction make this an excellent advanced beginner or intermediate project for knitters looking to expand their skills in garment construction and cable stitch integration.