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View Full Version : Cascading front knit cardigan - tutorial



StacyCK
09-24-2013, 08:56 AM
Here are the pattern pieces:

http://farm8.staticflickr.c om/7315/9842511224_0ea8b66f1 a_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842511224/)

To start you need a basic knit top pattern (front, back, arms).

I took my normal front knit shirt pattern block and went out 16 inches. This proves to be too much if the knit is too thick, though. It was fine on a regular thinner knit, but on the sweater knit she said it was "too big" (i.e. too much fabric at the neckline).

To rectify the teal cardigan, I will have to recut the front at an angle, so there isn't as much fabric around the neck. Bummer, though, because I had it lined up to use the selvage edge of the sweater knit. That worked great as a pre-finished edge.

The other item to add to this pattern piece is the back collar. Where the front neckline is supposed to start, line up the shoulder edges and the neckline on the back pattern piece and trace that out onto the paper. Add a seam allowance at the edge and then draw it straight out, or angled, depending on the fabric.

I used the normal back piece and arms of my basic knit shirt pattern block. This took 1.5 yds of fabric for a size 8.

There are a few different ways you can cut this pattern out of the fabric. You can either cut it like I have set up here OR if you have wide enough fabric you can cut the back neckline of the front piece on the fold. Then you don't need to do step #1 below and you won't have a seam on the back of the neckline. Do that if at all possible. I didn't think of that when I was cutting these out.

Hindsight being 20-20 and all that!

http://farm4.staticflickr.c om/3681/9842511784_bf884741c d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842511784/)

Construction:

1. Sew the back collar edging straight out.

http://farm4.staticflickr.c om/3668/9842554026_5dba2d2e7 e_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842554026/)

2. Attach the front to the back at the shoulders and along the neckline.


http://farm4.staticflickr.c om/3700/9842553906_008045e9a 0_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842553906/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.c om/3804/9842531685_1b0515cb2 7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842531685/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.c om/3672/9842511664_72149f1a1 5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842511664/)

http://farm8.staticflickr.c om/7379/9842619153_4a2af5122 7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842619153/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.c om/3747/9842511644_ccca73c8d 2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842511644/)

http://farm6.staticflickr.c om/5470/9842619003_8873377b2 2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842619003/)

3. Finish the edges of the arms - I just did a few lines of serged stitching.

http://farm6.staticflickr.c om/5537/9842553616_8391e8183 b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842553616/)

4. Attach the arms to the body.

http://farm8.staticflickr.c om/7416/9842511334_8e776d02e 0_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842511334/)

5. Sew the side seam/arm seam

http://farm6.staticflickr.c om/5538/9842618873_7118d10de 7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842618873/)

http://farm3.staticflickr.c om/2817/9842531405_45886cd59 8_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842531405/)

6. Finish raw hems...or leave unhemmed. I have seen this done, as well. I like to have a rolled edge at least, though. Looks more finished that way.

http://farm3.staticflickr.c om/2868/9842553366_a4b616d6e 0_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842553366/)

All done!

http://farm4.staticflickr.c om/3753/9842554126_4bbd4962f 8_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/9842554126/)

The edges are long enough for my DD to cross them in front and then tie them in back. She can also put the “collar” over her head like a hood. You can make the front go out longer or shorter depending on what you want it to look like.

plainjanesews
09-24-2013, 09:26 AM
i love that! thanks for the great tutorial!

kpfjpf
09-24-2013, 02:28 PM
thank you!!! i'm going to try tonight for me :)

DUMPDUCK3
09-25-2013, 08:04 AM
Thanks for the tutorial!

cinnamama
09-25-2013, 08:52 AM
Oooh! I like that! Love the hood option!

davi23
09-25-2013, 05:14 PM
Thank you! Really clear instructions.