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🎉 Save on yarn everyday! Buy 2+ and save 10%. Buy 4+ and save 15%. 📦 Free shipping on all items.
When I first designed the Carreau Top, I fell in love with the way those simple geometric squares—carreau in French—created such a striking visual effect in knitted fabric. After exploring this stitch pattern in both hand knitting and machine knitting, I knew there was more to discover. This sleeveless cardigan marks the third evolution of the Carreau design and it’s been quite a journey getting here.
The LK150 has become the top-selling new flat bed knitting machine, and for good reason. It’s accessible, versatile, and perfect for knitters who want to explore machine knitting without a massive investment. I wanted to create something specifically for this mid-gauge machine, translating my existing Carreau sweater into a yarn weight that would sing on the LK150.
But here’s the thing: a literal copy felt boring. I’d already done the sweater. So I asked myself, what if I kept that beloved check stitch but changed everything else? A sleeveless cardigan emerged. A garment that could be layered, that showed off the pattern beautifully, and that challenged me to work with new construction details.
The scalloped rib edges became my favorite feature. They frame the armholes, hem, and button band with this gentle wave that softens the geometric precision of the check pattern. It’s that mix of structure and flow that makes a garment feel complete.
And then there were the buttons. I searched and searched for traditional buttons that felt right, but nothing clicked. So I made my own yarn bobbles instead. Sometimes the best solutions come from necessity; and now I’m smitten with these little handmade details.
For this project, I worked with Dye Mad Yarns, a yarn company based nearby in Columbus, Ohio. Their Minnie DK weight knit beautifully on my machine and having access to Dye Mad’s incredible color combinations is like being a kid in a candy store.
I wanted to try something different from my previous Carreau designs, something that would push me to face my color anxiety. Enter: Neon Green (yes, it glows under black light!) paired with American Neon, which has a black base with sections of orange, blue, and red. The combination is bold, energetic, and completely unexpected. The range of bases and color palettes Dye Mad offers means you could knit a dozen of these cardigans and each one would have its own personality. If you’re in the US, I can’t recommend them enough.
The tuck stitch pattern requires needle selection. You can do it by hand, use a punch card or use electronic selection depending on your machine. On my LK150, I was hand-selecting needles, which can get tedious. That’s when I turned to 3D printing.
I designed and printed a pusher tool that dramatically speeds up needle selection. If you’re curious about the process, I wrote about it in detail on my journal. I’ve found it really satisfying to create your own tools and solve specific problems in my work.
A huge thank you goes to my test knitters, Emilie and Fanny. Their feedback was invaluable, and their samples turned out beautifully. Test knitters are the unsung heroes of pattern development. They catch things I miss, they ask questions that make me clarify my instructions, and they prove that the pattern works for others.
I had leftover yarn and it is too beautiful to waste! I was also excited to have the opportunity to create something very accessible and beginner-friendly using this stitch pattern. The Carreau Beanie was born.
Same two colors, same order, but in a cozy hat format. (Though switching them up would make a fun twist on a matching set!) The back side of this fabric is just as interesting as the front, so I designed a folded brim to show it off. And because I can never resist, I topped it with a faux-fur pom-pom.
The crown decreases can be knit by hand or on the machine—I included directions for both methods because I want knitters to choose what works for them. At only 75 grams of yarn, it’s a perfect stash buster and a great way to use up those project leftovers.
The Carreau Sleeveless Cardigan pattern includes sizes with chest circumferences from 30″ to 60″, written for mid-gauge machines. The rib trims can be hand manipulated without a ribber, and you can choose to knit it with straight sides or add waist and chest shaping. Pattern coming soon!
The Carreau Beanie comes in five sizes from toddler through adult large, with a full video walkthrough, clearly written directions, schematics, and charts.
The American Neon color was inspired by the American Sign Museum here in Cincinnati so of course I had to take some pictures there! This third take with this stitch pattern taught me that there’s always a new direction to go. The check stitch, and the back side of the fabric, still delight me every time I see it come off the needles, and I hope it brings you the same joy.
Happy knitting!
