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Iris’s Cable Knit Duster Cardigan
IRIS BELL · PORTLAND, OREGON
The Cardigan Iris Has Been Perfecting for Twenty Years
Iris Bell learned to knit from her grandmother in coastal Maine. She spent two decades adjusting the same cable pattern — tightening the column spacing, extending the length to true duster proportions, switching to a wool-blend that moves like jersey but holds the cable definition through washing. This is the version she stopped changing.
Six sizes: XS through 2XL. Iris graded each size herself because she wanted the cable columns to track correctly across the full size range — not scaled mechanically, but re-proportioned for each body.
“The pattern didn’t change for twenty years. I just kept changing what was wrong with it.”
Iris Bell, knitwear designer & maker, Portland, OR
WHY THIS PIECE
Three Details Worth Noticing
Cable pattern re-graded for each size
Most knitwear scales the same pattern up and down. Iris re-graded each size so the cable columns track correctly against the proportions of that size. The XS and the 2XL have the same number of columns, but the spacing between them is not the same — it’s right for each.
Duster length on purpose, not by accident
Iris extended the hem because she wanted the coat to function as a layer — something you put on over an outfit, not instead of one. It hits at hip to lower thigh depending on your height. It goes over everything and it adds instead of replacing.
Wool-blend that washes without destroying the cable
The cable definition holds after washing because the fiber content was chosen for it, not for hand-feel alone. Twenty years of testing different blends landed here. The softness is a side effect of getting the right fiber.
FROM THE MAKER
A cardigan that pills after four washes is not a cardigan — it’s a disappointment you paid for. I wanted this one to be the thing you reach for every time it’s cold and feel good about it five years later. That meant solving the fiber problem first, then the length, then the grading.
Iris Bell — knitwear designer & maker, Portland, OR. Twenty years adjusting the same pattern until she stopped.
HOW IT COMPARES
A Different Kind of Piece
| What matters | This piece | Another approach |
|---|---|---|
| Sizing | XS–2XL, cable re-graded per size by the maker. | Mass-market cardigans typically scale one pattern mechanically. |
| Length | True duster, hip to lower thigh; designed to layer. | Length varies; “duster” is sometimes used for knee-length or shorter. |
| Cable quality after washing | Fiber chosen to hold cable definition through repeated wash cycles. | Many cable knits soften or distort after several washes. |
| Maker involvement | Iris grades, knits, and finishes each piece. | Factory-made; maker is typically not involved after design. |
PLAIN-SPOKEN DETAILS
What’s Here Before You Choose
An honest note
Dye lot variation is real — if you order two cardigans in different batches, the shade of oat may differ slightly. If that matters for a gift set, order together. Exact fiber percentages are on the garment label; not stated in the listing.
THE DETAILS
Specifications
| Product | Cable Knit Duster Cardigan |
| Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL |
| Pattern | Cable knit column |
| Length | Duster (hip to lower thigh) |
| Fiber | Wool-blend; see garment label |
| Care | Cold hand-wash or delicate cycle |
| Made in | Portland, Oregon, USA |
BEFORE YOU CHOOSE
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose my size?
Iris sizes to standard US measurements. If you’re between sizes, go up — the duster length reads better with a little ease, and the cable pattern holds its look without feeling pulled across the shoulders.
Will the cable hold after washing?
Yes — that’s why the fiber blend exists. Follow the cold hand-wash or delicate cycle instruction on the garment label. High heat is the enemy of cable definition in any knit; don’t machine-dry on high.
Is the color one shade or multiple?
Natural oat — a warm off-white. Iris sources a single dye lot per run, so there may be slight variation between batches. Exact shade is on the label.
Does it work as a coat replacement?
In mild weather, yes. It was designed to layer, not to replace a winter coat. Over a turtleneck in fall: yes. In January in Chicago: bring a coat too.
Twenty Years and One Right Answer
Iris stopped changing the pattern when she ran out of things to fix. Six sizes, each graded by hand. A wool-blend that earns its softness by solving the washing problem first. This is the cardigan she kept adjusting until it was done.
700+ Happy Customers
Excellent 4.9 ★★★★★
What Iris’s customers are saying
I’ve bought three ‘duster cardigans’ in the past two years and sent all of them back. This one I kept the day it arrived. The cable is clean, the length is actually a duster, and it hasn’t pilled after six washes. Finally.
Ordered the M. I’m 5’7″ and it hits perfectly at mid-thigh. The cable pattern doesn’t look stretched or bunched. You can tell it was re-graded, not just scaled up. Big difference.
I wear this as my everyday fall layer over everything. T-shirts, button-downs, whatever. It goes over all of it and it looks intentional every time. That’s the test for me.
Bought the 2XL for my sister. The cable stays crisp across the full width and the length is exactly right. Iris clearly thought about this at every size, not just the medium. Remarkable.
