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The Ostinato Cardigan is your new wardrobe hero! It is inspired by the musical concept of Ostinato - a melody repeated throughout the piece, sometimes with a little twist or in a different key. Adaptable but constant, this cardigan is about becoming a go-to piece with its classic fit and flattering set-in sleeves that look great on everyone. As it is worked seamlessly from the top down, it allows you to tweak it for that just-right, custom fit.

Check out the pattern deep-dive video on YouTube.

Made using fingering-weight yarn, the Ostinato Cardigan is perfect for those days when you just can’t guess the weather. The idea for the pattern came after a fascinating talk at Vogue Knitting Live on fashion trends, celebrating the timeless appeal of snug, crew-neck cardigans in fine wools that slide right into today’s trends while keeping their classic charm.

Whether you’re dressing up for a night out or want to feel cosy and stylish in your daily get-up, the Ostinato Cardigan is the perfect match for any outfit, adding a dash of sophistication and warmth. This knitting pattern is an invitation to create what’s sure to be the most beloved and harmonious piece in your closet, wrapping you in the comfort of your favourite tune over and over.

Difficulty: Intermediate.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Finished bust circumference:

• 88.5 (98.5, 108.5, 118.5, 128.5, 138.5, 148.5, 156.5, 166.5) cm
• 35¼ (39¼, 43¼, 47¼, 51¼, 55¼, 59¼, 62¾, 66¾)”

Designed to be worn with 5-10 cm / 2-4” positive ease around the chest.
To choose the most appropriate size, measure the wearer’s chest and add the preferred ease. Or measure the circumference of an already-owned cardigan that fits well. Then find the closest finished chest circumference.

Yarn: Fingering weight yarn. Depending on the length of the cardigan, allow approximately:

• 1080 (1135, 1200, 1255, 1345, 1400, 1490, 1535, 1615) m
• 1180 (1240, 1310, 1370, 1470, 1530, 1625, 1675, 1765) yds

Yarn used in the sample (Size 2) is 4 skeins of Loop Fiber Studio Yin Yang Fingering (100% extra fine merino; 366 m 400 yds / 100 g) in colourway A Hard Place.

Gauge: 24 sts & 32 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked.

Note: Achieving the correct row gauge is equally important. This is because the sleeve cap shaping instructions rely on it, and the yoke rows are specifically calculated.

Suggested needles:

• 3.25 mm (US 3) circulars 60-100 cm / 24-40″ long and (optional) DPNs for small circumference knitting
• 2.75 mm (US 2) circulars 60-100 cm / 24-40″ long and (optional) DPNs for small circumference knitting

Notions: Stitch markers, row counter, scissors, tape measure, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle, 10-15 12 mm/½” buttons.
Techniques used: Backwards loop cast-on, short rows, lifted increases, knitting in the round.

Construction notes: The cardigan is worked seamlessly flat from the top down. We start by casting on stitches for the back neckline and shaping the shoulders with lifted increases. The back is then worked down to the underarms, with armhole shaping increases.

Next, we pick up stitches along the back shoulders to create the front shoulders, working each side separately with increases that shape the front neckline, continuing down to the underarm and incorporating armhole shaping increases.

Once the back and fronts are joined together, we knit the body in one piece all the way down to the hem, and finish with a 1x1 rib on smaller needles.

For the sleeves, we pick up stitches along the shoulder edges and the underarm cast-on edge. The sleeve caps are shaped using short rows. Continuing in the round, we knit the sleeves all the way to the cuffs which are finished with a 1x1 rib.

A 1x1 ribbed neckband is created by picking up stitches around the neckline. For a polished look, button bands are added by picking up stitches along the front opening and knitting to the desired width in 1x1 rib with yarnover buttonholes.