The Nartelle Vest – Knitting Pattern - Mosaic Stitch

A project you'll get hooked on, we warned you...

What you'll knit

The Nartelle cardigan is a design suitable for mid-season but can also keep you warm on the coldest winter days. Knitted bottom-up, it combines a colorful mosaic pattern, neat twisted ribbing, and double-knit bands that give it an impeccable drape (and let's be honest, it just looks too good).

The body and sleeves play with colors according to the chart and explanations for the setup rows to easily center the motifs. Shoulders are joined with a three-needle bind-off (we have to say, one of our favorite techniques), the collar is knitted in twisted rib, and the sleeves finish with a tubular bind-off for a comfortable, long-lasting edge. The double-knit button bands? Absolutely sublime (yes, we're repeating ourselves) and optional, with integrated buttonholes.

Nine sizes available, 7 cm of positive ease on all sizes: a cardigan designed to be worn with pleasure, not with compromise.

Why we love it

• 🎨 The mosaic pattern: fun to knit, great to look at. It plays with colors without ever being complicated—no managing two strands at once, we promise. (ideal for tackling multi-color projects without panicking)
• 🌿 The yarn: Mohair Silk (75% mohair, 25% silk), used with 3 strands held together from the Fiber Copenhagen brand (but any yarn with a similar gauge will work)
• 📐 The construction: bottom-up, sleeves knitted in the round.
• ✨ The finishes: double knit, tubular bind-off, twisted rib... We try to guide you through each technique!
• 🌈 Three colors: two main colors + an accent color. This is what we suggest, but you can consider more colors if you wish (or remove the accent color?)

Technical Information

Sizes

XS – S – M – L – XL – 2XL – 3XL – 4XL – 5XL (93 – 97 – 101 – 114 – 124 – 134 – 144 – 154 – 164 cm) Positive ease: 7 cm for all sizes

Gauge

15 sts × 27 rows = 10 × 10 cm in Nartelle pattern (mosaic stitch) Check your gauge before starting, it makes all the difference on a project like this and any other for that matter, haha

Yarn

Recommended yarn: Silk Mohair – Copenhagen Fibers / Hobbii (75% mohair – 25% silk, Lace used with 3 strands held together)

You can substitute with an equivalent Lace weight yarn or any other that achieves a similar gauge.

Materials

• 6 mm (US 10) circular needles (80 cm and 40 cm)
• 4.5 mm (US 7) circular needles (80 cm and 40 cm)
• 5 buttons (20 mm diameter)

Techniques used

• Knit stitch, Purl stitch
• Twisted rib
• Slip stitch: Sli 1 st wyif (with yarn in front) / Sli 1 st wyib (with yarn in back)
• Standard bind-off and Tubular bind-off
• Double knit border (with and without buttonholes)
• Three-needle bind-off

New to some of these techniques? Check out our YouTube tutorials for step-by-step guidance. 🎬

The Pattern in Detail

Available in French and English

The Nartelle pattern is written in French and English, so everyone can knit in the language they feel most comfortable with.

A Downloadable PDF Pattern

After your purchase, you immediately receive your PDF file. You can print it, annotate it, keep it on your tablet—it's yours forever.

A (truly) well-thought-out gift idea

Looking for a gift for a knitter? A pattern like Nartelle is a complete project: something to make, something to wear, something to choose (the colors!). It's the kind of gift that brings joy twice—the day it's opened, and the day the finished cardigan is worn.

And if you treat yourself? That's an excellent idea too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this pattern suitable for intermediate knitters? Yes, absolutely. If you've mastered the basics and have already knitted a garment, Nartelle is a great next step. The mosaic stitch looks impressive but is knitted with only one strand at a time, making it more accessible than it seems.

Can I use a different yarn than the recommended Silk Mohair? Yes, provided you match the gauge. An equivalent Lace weight yarn will work perfectly. The essential thing is to knit your swatch before starting.

Is the chart easy to read? It was designed to be clear and progressive. And if you're new to charts, don't panic: the pattern explains how to read it.

Ready to get started?

Add Nartelle to your cart and download it in seconds. Your needles and first ball of mohair are waiting for you. 🧶

And if you're looking for other projects in the same spirit—colorful, joyful, carefully constructed—explore the Knit-Sis shop. There's bound to be a next project calling your name.