There are few wardrobe pieces more essential than the cardigan. You can wear it in all four seasons, you can dress it up or down, and you can easily put it on and take it off as the temperature changes. It’s the ultimate layering piece! Clearly, I love cardigans, and I wear them all the time. I have a pretty substantial collection but I’m always on the lookout for more, in different colors and cuts and styles. My newest obsession is the Sheep Station Cardigan from Knitting Traditions 2018, and I can’t wait to add it to my collection!
This lightweight but warm piece is everything I look for in a cardigan: it’s figure-flattering but not skin-tight, comfortable, and versatile, and it has interesting details that make it fun to knit and wear. The broken rib pattern throughout the body gives it stretch but doesn’t add bulk, and it adds a nice bit of visual interest. But the real stars of the show are the simple lace edgings at the hem and cuffs that make this piece really special.
Brown Sheep Company’s Prairie Spun DK, a 100% wool 3-ply yarn, highlights those beautiful lace edgings and the subtle ribbing. The fiber is very soft, so you can wear this cardi next to the skin without worrying about scratchiness. The dark brownish-green is a lovely color that’s perfect for fall layering—the Sheep Station Cardigan would be gorgeous over a white button-down and jeans or a warm-toned dress. But if this hue isn’t your jam, Prairie Spun DK comes in a wealth of colors, so you’re sure to find one that suits you!
Pattern Details
DESIGNER Kristen TenDyke
DIFFICULTY Intermediate
FINISHED SIZE 35½ (39¾, 44¼, 48½, 53, 57¼, 61½)" bust circumference, buttoned. Cardigan shown measures 39¾"; modeled with 4¾" of positive ease.
YARN Brown Sheep Company Prairie Spun DK (100% wool; 256 yd [234 m]/3½ oz [100 g]): #DK70 ash hollow, 5 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins.
NEEDLES Size 7 (4.5 mm): 32" circular (cir) and set of double-pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
NOTIONS Markers (m); stitch holders; tapestry needle; seven 5/8" buttons.
GAUGE 22 sts and 35 rows = 4" in Broken rib patt.