My Transfigured Rectangles Cardigan Reveal
What started as a few rectangles in the Kniterate design app became a textured cardigan I'll love to wear once our weather is a little cooler.
Designing and knitting a cardigan is a commitment. This video recap covers tips on stabilization and a challenge I hadn't expected. I also model the completed machine-knit sweater so you can see how the piece comes together after the construction and finishing work is done. I hope this look helps you visualize your own work.
If you enjoy this type of content, be sure to subscribe on YouTube, where I also publish YT Posts (short updates) between videos.
Related Links
Transfigured Rectangles Cardigan: Designing and Knitting [YouTube playlist] — Four videos documenting process and thoughts from the original swatch and design, through modifications to the reveal
Stitch pattern for the Transfigured Rectangles cardigan [Customist by Kniterate]— I’ve made it available for Kniterate knitters.
Purl Knit or Links-Links and What’s a Horizontal Rib? — Stitch block and template for the stitch pattern are available for download.
Video Transcript
I finished my cardigan, and I'm so excited to share it with you! Hello, I'm Olgalyn Jolly, and back in fall 2025, I started swatching for my cardigan. Well, I finally finished it. I had a few challenges, nothing big, but some things I didn't expect.
The cardigan is constructed of seven pieces — two pieces for the front, two pieces for the back, two sleeves, and then one piece, which was a surprise for me. I didn't really realize that I needed it. It's one strip of interlock, which I used to stabilize the back neckline. It goes just along the back neckline from shoulder seam to shoulder seam, and it keeps the cardigan stable on me.
(The transcript continues below the image.)
The other places I had to stabilize were the shoulder seams and right around the shoulders at the sleeve seam. And I did that by taking three ends of a nonstretchy bamboo rayon and just stitching it along the seams. Other than that, there weren't any other surprises in construction.
I knitted all the pieces on the Kniterate, but I have to say that I probably would not have done this stitch pattern if I did not have the machine. The stitch pattern involves lots of transfers. If you want to do the stitch pattern yourself, I have the instructions in another video right over here.
Now I love hand manipulations. I love planning them and thinking about them, and I love the final result. What I don't like is actually doing them. [My tired hands hurt after holding a transfer tool for ten minutes.] So that's why I say I probably would not have done the stitch pattern if it hadn't been for the Kniterate, because the Kniterate will do the transfers automatically once you program them.
(The transcript continues below the image.)
Now, other than that, the construction went rather smoothly. I love the last minute changes I made. If you've been following along, you'll be able to spot them. So, here it is.
O!
Curious about purchasing a Kniterate? I’d be happy to give you a virtual tour of the machine.