Blue Ridge - Cardigan Knitting Pattern for Women in Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic

Blue Ridge Cardigan Knitting Pattern for Women – Nancy Camposano for Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic

About This Pattern

The Blue Ridge is a women's cardigan knitting pattern designed by Nancy Camposano and published by Tahki Stacy Charles Inc. in 2019. Rated intermediate in difficulty, this pattern produces a relaxed, generously sized open cardigan with striking colorwork detailing. It is available as a downloadable PDF, making it immediately accessible for knitters ready to cast on.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a women's seamed cardigan worked in a classic, wearable silhouette. It is offered in two sizes:

• Small/Medium: 47"/119.5 cm bust, 30¾"/78 cm length
• Large/XL: 51"/129.5 cm bust, 31½"/80 cm length

The generous bust measurements and substantial length make this an ideal layering piece — a relaxed, cozy cardigan suited to cool-weather wear. The name Blue Ridge evokes the earthy, natural palette of the design, which blends cool blues with warm neutrals in a structured colorwork layout.

Construction Method

The Blue Ridge cardigan is constructed bottom-up and worked flat in separate pieces that are then seamed together. This traditional construction method gives the finished garment excellent structure and drape, and allows each piece — back, fronts, and sleeves — to be blocked individually before assembly. Seaming is completed with a yarn needle, which is a standard finishing technique for flat-knit garments.

Techniques Used

This pattern incorporates several techniques that make it a rewarding project for an intermediate knitter:

• Bottom-up construction: Each garment piece begins at the lower hem and is worked upward toward the shoulders, following a familiar and intuitive shaping sequence.
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, making this an excellent choice for knitters who prefer straight or short circular needles for flat work.
• Stripes: The design features horizontal stripe sequences that alternate the four colors in a structured, repeating pattern, creating bold visual interest across the body of the cardigan.
• Intarsia: Intarsia colorwork technique is used to manage distinct color blocks within the fabric. Unlike stranded colorwork, intarsia uses separate yarn bobbins or lengths for each color section, preventing floats on the wrong side and keeping the fabric smooth and single-thickness. This technique requires some color management practice but is well within reach for intermediate knitters.
• Slip-stitch pattern: The pattern stitches include a slip-stitch sequence worked across right-side and wrong-side rows, alternating between two colors. In this technique, stitches are slipped with yarn in front (wyif), creating a woven, textured surface effect that blends the colors visually without stranding.
• Seaming and finishing: Pieces are joined using a yarn needle, and a neckband is picked up and worked on a circular needle to create a clean, professional collar finish.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch: The primary fabric stitch, worked as knit on right-side rows and purl on wrong-side rows. The gauge for this pattern is set in stockinette: 18 stitches and 26 rows = 4"/10 cm.
• Slip-stitch colorwork: A repeating slip-stitch pattern alternates two colors across rows. On right-side rows, stitches are worked as k1, sl 1 wyif sequences; wrong-side rows are purled. This creates a woven, interlocking texture between the colors without requiring stranded knitting skills.
• Ribbing or neckband edging: A neckband is finished using a circular needle, creating a tidy border around the front opening and collar area.

Materials Required

The pattern is specifically designed for Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic, a 100% mercerized cotton yarn in a DK weight (1.75 oz/50 g per skein;