The White Day Cardigan is a V-neck drop shoulder garment with a saddle shoulder construction. It is worked from the top down with lots of carefully placed shaping to avoid bunching of fabric below the underarms. The main twist of this classic silhouette lies in the saddles: instead of being simple rectangles of fabric, they include all the shoulder and neck shaping and join each other at the back neck, so that the rest of the body that is picked up from those saddles doesn’t include any short row shaping.

The double knit button band and the folded over edges give an elegant and sturdy finish for a clean and timeless look. The main detail that stands out is the eye-catching but simple ring around the armholes, created with a tuck-stitch technique using a contrasting color.

To see different versions of the pattern knit in various yarns, sizes, fibers and colors, you can check out the testers’ versions under the “Project” tab at the top of the page, or the #WhiteDayCardigan on Instagram.

The pattern has been tested and professionally tech edited.

KEY FEATURES
Worsted weight gauge (holding a DK + lace together)
Top down flat (sleeves in the round)
Modified saddle shoulder construction
Oversize fit
Optional bust darts
Optional body shaping
All over stockinette
Tuck detail in contrast color around the armholes (optional)
Bottom hem and cuffs in folded over stockinette
Double knit button band

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

NOTE: Sizes 7, 8 and 9 haven’t been tested. If you wish to knit those sizes and have the corresponding chest measurement, please contact me via e-mail: if you agree to do so, I will send you the pattern for free for testing.
#sizeinclusive

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Suggested ease: 15 to 25 cm / 6 to 10” of positive ease at the chest. Sizing guidance included in the pattern.

Chest circumference of the finished garment (these are rounded, see full size chart image):
90, 100, 110 (120, 130, 140) 150, 160, 170 cm / 36, 40, 44 (48, 52, 56) 60, 64, 68”

To fit chest measurement (the chest is measured at the upper bust, not the full bust):
70, 80, 90 (100, 110, 120) 130, 140, 150 cm / 28, 32, 36 (40, 44, 48) 52, 56, 60”

Sample size: modified size 2 without bust darts.
Model 1: 164 cm / 5’4” tall, 87 cm / 34¼” chest (84 cm / 33” full bust)
Model 2: 169 cm / 5’6” tall, 85 cm / 33½” chest (80 cm / 31½’’ full bust)

YARNS USED IN SAMPLE
Monts d’Arrée DK by Bouclelaine in Blanc naturel (100% wool: Texel, Charolais, Ile de France, 2 ply, 266 meters / 290 yards per 100g)
Held with Titicaca by Holst in 01 Ecru (100% alpaca, 2 ply, 400 meters / 437 yards per 50g)

Black contrast color: Le Lambswool by Biches et Bûches in Gris Très Foncé (100% lambswool, 2 ply, 170 meters / 186 yards per 50g)

YARN REQUIREMENTS
A buffer for swatching purposes is already accounted for. The following lengths are for each strand separately.
The optional bust darts modification will require an additional 12 to 50 m / 12 to 55 y of yarn.

Main Color:
970, 1040, 1100 (1200, 1260, 1360) 1410, 1530, 1580] m
1060, 1140, 1200 (1310, 1380, 1490) 1540, 1670, 1730 y
365, 390, 415 (450, 475, 510) 530, 575, 595 g of Monts d’Arrée
120, 130, 135 (150, 160, 170) 175, 190, 200 g of Titicaca

Contrast color:
60, 60, 65 (80, 85, 90) 100, 110, 110 m
65, 65, 70 (90, 95, 100) 110, 120, 120 y

GAUGE
Gauge in stockinette flat and in the round, wet blocked.
17.5 sts by 26 rows/rounds over 10x10 cm / 4x4”

SUGGESTED NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
All circular needles of various lengths (depending on the garment size you’re working up).

Main needles: 4.5 mm / US 7 circular needles
Hem needles: 4 mm / US 6 circular needles or 1 size smaller than Main needles

Notions: removable stitch markers, scissors, 1 unique marker, darning needle, measuring tape, waste yarn/stitch holders, 3 or 4 buttons (2 cm / 0.75” diameter)

SKILLS

• Knitting flat and in the round
• Increasing/decreasing
• Tuck stitches (video tutorial)
• Double knitting
• Vertical buttonhole in double knitting (video tutorial)
• German short rows
• Long tail cast on
• Backwards loop cast on
• Picking up stitches
• Folded over hem

Photo credit: @alexialinn__ on Instragram
Model 1: Olivia
Model 2: yours truly