French translation of the pattern courtesy of Marjolaine is available at Planete Laine

Agata is the pattern for my ideal fall cardigan -- simple, warm and cozy, with an oversized body, and fitted sleeves with a long ribbed cuff. I wanted to keep the design as basic as possible, so that the beautiful handpainted yarn could shine. There are no complicated techniques or stitch patterns, just garter stitch, stockinette, and a rib, yet the colors in the yarn make the design seem so much more complex than it is.

This pattern is a great first sweater project for beginner knitters. All of the pattern pieces are essentially just big rectangles. There is no increase or decrease shaping, and it only requires knowledge of the most basic stitch patterns. If you know how to knit and purl, you can make this cardigan. More experienced knitters will find this pattern to be a quick knit. Despite its large size, it is knit at a loose gauge, and the rows of garter stitch and stockinette will fly by.

The pattern begins with the center back panel, knit in garter stitch with the self-striping Tapestry color yarn. From there, stitches are picked up along the sides of this panel and knit sideways to form the body. There are no side seams; the back and front are knit out from the center back panel in one continuous piece. In order to create a slow, blended color transition from the back of the sweater around to the front, two or three balls of the main color yarn are knit at the same time, alternating two rows from each. In this way, the ombré effect of the yarn is extended, and contrasts with the more rapid striping of the contrasting yarn. The collar and sleeves are knit flat and seamed onto the body after blocking.