Inspiration
I Made It with Atlas: Morchella Cardigan
I’ve been slowly working down a list of must-haves for my hand-knit wardrobe, and one important staple has been missing for too long—a yellow cardigan. I love living in a cozy cardigan when I’m at home or out and about, thrown over a t-shirt or maybe over a dress if I’m feeling fancy.
Having made three sweaters in Atlas over the past year, I knew it would be the perfect yarn for a cardigan. The color? My favorite bright chartreuse-y shade of yellow, Pear.
I went on a Ravelry hunt for a cardigan pattern with texture and ribbing for the cozy squish I was after. Something hearty, homey, wholesome and substantial. I came across the Morchella Cardigan by Whitney Hayward and knew it was the cardigan for me.
After casting on, I was pleased to discover that the majority of this sweater is knit in Cartridge Rib, a 2-row stitch pattern with deep ridges and neat lines of slipped stitches that requires no purling when knitted flat. (I decided to knit the sleeves in the round, which requires purling but those easy slipped stitches are so wonderful!)
The flat Cartridge Rib sections speed along pretty quickly on size US 7 (4.5 mm) needles, and Atlas creates a soft fabric that is springy and bouncy. This rib is also reversible, and while the stitch is not difficult, it’s wise to peek at the back of your work every so often to make sure your slipped stitches are still lining up like little building blocks. Marking the right side of your garment with a removable stitch marker is also helpful.
Morchella is knitted from the bottom up, seamed at the shoulders, then stitches are picked up around each armhole for the sleeves. You definitely want to keep track of where you are as you work through the neck shaping, because there are technically two sets of instructions that alternate from beginning-of-row directions to end-of-row directions. There’s also a handy chart if you prefer pictures to written instructions.
The button band is worked completely separately on US 4s, and it rolls up like a little stockinette snake. It’s knitted flat, has double buttonholes, and it’s folded over the edge of the cardigan when seamed, which is a whole other unexpected adventure. I left the button band stitches live on my needles as I seamed the band to the sweater in case I needed to adjust the length at the end. It’s really fun to knit, and the density of the fabric on smaller needles provides a nice, solid button band that I really like.
Pattern notes: Once the knitting is done there is a lot of finishing to do, and the button band was trickier to seam than other bands I have sewn in the past, but the construction is solid and results in a sweater that feels just right.
My cardigan could still use a good wet block, but I can already tell it’s one of those sweaters that gets better and better as you wear it. I could see myself making another one in a neutral shade … Shale, Cork, Mouse, or Cedar would look absolutely lovely.
I’m thrilled to add this new yellow cardigan to my wardrobe. And … the buttons! We have a pet tortoise, and I love all things turtle/tortoise related. I’ve had these wooden Katrinkles tortoise buttons for a few years and had been saving them for the right project. This cardigan only needs four buttons and these happened to be the perfect size for the little double buttonholes. It was meant to be.
Make It with Atlas
- Morchella Cardigan by Whitney Hayward
- US 7 (4.5 mm) needles (or size to obtain 22 stitches = 4″ (10 cm) gauge in Cartridge Rib)
- 7 skeins of Atlas in Pear for size B
- Four .75″/19 mm buttons for size B
- Row counter (optional)
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It’s perfect, Jen! Now I want to knit a chartreuse cardigan!
Thank you – I love it so much! (You need one too!)
Such a beautiful, cozy sweater, and it looks great on you! I normally gravitate toward pullover sweaters, but I may have to rethink this and, someday, knit this sweater and your Mabel in Atlas!
Thank you! An Atlas cardigan is such a nice, cozy layer!
Great to see you here with your vivid creation! (I’ve been off IG for a few months now and miss some key content). The turtle buttons are a delightful tickle of added joy. Enjoy wearing it and spreading sunshine.
It looks perfect on you, Jen!
I love this…everything about it. The color is stunning on you.
Looks scrumptious, and those buttons take it over the top!
I learned about sewn on button bands years ago from Karen Templar’s blog – they are so much nicer than picked up ones in my book! Easy to adjust for the perfect length as you say, and no pickup, oops too tight, pickup, oops too loose to fuss with.
The sweater is beautiful!
I love this sweater on you! I have been mildly obsessed with finding a ribbed or brioche sweater and cardigan for a while now. This one is going on the list. I also have a pet tortoise, California desert, who is happily hibernating through all this rain. Those buttons really are the best!
Jen, it’s just lovely. Chartreuse is a perfect colour for spring – it’s new life as the buds form on the trees. And those darling buttons! There’s nothing like a cozy, most-seasons cardigan.
Nice – and I love when the buttons you have been saving find a home!
This color!! Fabulous. Great sweater, Jen, and those buttons could not be more perfect. I will have to look into the separately knit button band.
Beautiful sweater, and it’s beautiful on you. Love the tortoise buttons!
Beautiful knit, and I love the way the depth of the rib pattern shows off the almost liminal quality of the yarn color…is it greenish yellow? is it yellowish green? Is it delightful? YES! This looks like the sort of garment that becomes an Old Friend just about instantly 🙂
Beautiful sweater, Jen, in style, color, and workmanship! I don’t think that I currently have the skills to make such a great looking button band. However, your tip about leaving live stitches on the needles as you seam the button band to the sweater makes it seem a lot easier. Helpful, as well, is your description of Atlas yarn, that it creates a springy and bouncy fabric (Pear is such a brilliant and descriptive color name for the yellow that you chose).
Love the sweater in Atlas. The pattern is written for a DK weight yarn, though. Did you have to make pattern adjustments or were you able to make pattern gauge with the Atlas yarn?
I somehow got gauge on US 7s … funny how that happens! It might be the rib …
Oh how squishy and soft I know this must be! Another to add to my list for sure. I can see myself snuggling into this one in Wintergreen for a crisp pop of color or sunny Citron. 🙂