FANCY CARDIGAN
YARN = BABY SOFT FANCY by LAINES DU NORD, Sizes S (M - L): 450 (500-550) grams x col. 6
CIRCULAR NEEDLES = 4 mm tips with 100 cm and 60 cm cables.
STRAIGHT NEEDLES = 4 mm
OTHERS = stitch markers, darning needle, scissors, tape measure, waste yarn.
Work the body of the cardigan as a single panel, including both front sections and the back. Knit it flat (= in back-and-forth rows) bottom up until the armholes. Work the upper sections of the right front, back and left front separately on the last row of the panel, then seam the shoulders together. Pick up and knit the sleeves in the round from the armholes. Open-work st diagrams 1 and 2 are read from bottom to top.
For flat knitting (diagram 1): odd-numbered rows (RS) are read from right to left, while even-numbered rows (WS) are read from left to right. For knitting in the round (diagram 2): all rounds (RS) are read from right to left. When instructed to place stitches on hold, transfer them onto waste yarn and tie the ends together to prevent losing stitches.
Garter stitch in back-and-forth rows: knit all r.
Garter stitch in the round:
Round 1 (RS): knit.
Round 2 (WS): purl.
Always rep rounds 1 and 2.
Stockinette stitch in back-and-forth rows:
R 1 (RS): knit.
R 2 (WS): purl.
Always rep r 1 and 2
Stockinette stitch in the round: knit all rounds.
RS = right side of the work
WS = wrong side of the work
SM =stitch marker
b-SM = beginning stitch marker
r = row/s
st/s = stitch/es
col = color
k = knit
yo = yarn over
tog = together
rep = repeat
p = purl
sk2p = slip 1 st k-wise, knit 2 sts tog, pass slipped stitch over.
k2tog = knit 2 together(insert the right needle into the next 2 stitches on the left needle and knit them together).
Size in the picture: S
Chest circumference: 100 cm
Total length: 75 cm
Body length from underarm: 52 cm
Sleeve length from underarm: 30 cm
Sleeve circumference: 34 cm
Procedure
FINISHING
Using a darning needle, graft (invisible seam) the 47 (52 - 57) sts on hold from the back to the corresponding 47 (52 - 57) sts of the two front sections to join the shoulders. Leave the 8 garter stitch band sts from both edges of the cardigan opening (right and left sides) and the 15 back neckline sts on hold, as they will be worked later.
BODY (right front, back and left front up to the armholes)
Using circular needles with 4 mm tips and a 100 cm cable, cast on 227 (247 - 267) sts. First, shape the lower band.
R 1 to 8: work in garter st. in back-and-forth.
Continue in open-work st in back-and-forth (diagram 1), while shaping the side bands in garter st.
R 1 and all odd r (RS): k8 on the first 8 sts, then foll diagram 1, repeating the 10-st horizontal rep until 9 sts. remain, k9 on the last 9 sts.
R 2 and all even r (WS): k8 on the first 8 sts, p1, then foll diagram 1, repeating the 10-st horizontal rep until 8 sts. remain, k8 on the last 8 sts.
Rep the 8-r vertical rep 4 times in total (= 32 r).
Continue in stockinette st, shaping the 2 side bands in garter st.
R 1 (RS): knit.
R 2 (WS): k8, purl until 8 sts remain, k8 on the last 8 sts.
Rep r 1 and 2 until the total length measures approx. 43 (54 - 55) cm.
Continue working the 2 front sections and back separately.
RIGHT FRONT
R 1 (RS): knit across the first 57 (62 - 67) sts, turn, leaving the remaining sts unworked.
R 2 (WS): bind off 2 sts, purl to the last 8 sts, k8, turn. [55 (60 - 65) sts]
R 3 (RS): knit.
R 4 (WS): purl to the last 8 sts, k8.
Rep r 3 and 4 until the piece measures 22 (24 -26) cm more.
At the end, place these sts on hold and continue working the next 113 (123 - 133) sts for the back.
BACK
R 1 (RS): bind off the first 2 sts after the right front, knit across the next sts, turn, leaving the remaining sts unworked, turn.[111 (121 - 131) sts]
R 2 (WS): bind off 2 st, purl to the end of the r, turn. [109 (119 – 129 sts]
R 3 (RS): knit.
R 4 (WS): purl.
Rep r 3 and 4 until the piece measures 22 (24 -26) cm more.
Finally, place these sts on hold and continue working the last 57 (62 - 67) sts for the left front.
LEFT FRONT
R 1 (RS): bind off the first 2 sts after the back, knit across the next 55 (60 - 65) sts, turn.
R 2 (WS): k8, purl to the end of the r [55 (60 – 65) sts]
R 3 (RS): knit.
R 4 (WS): purl.
Rep r 3 and 4 until the piece measures 22 (24 -26) cm more.
At the end, place these sts on hold.
BACK COLLAR
Pick up the 8 sts from the right front opening band of the cardigan and place them onto a 4 mm straight needles. These stitches will be worked together with the 15 held sts from the back neckline to join the 2 edges:
R 1 (RS): k7, k2tog (insert the needle through 1 st from the band and 1 st from the back neckline, knitting them together)
R 2 (WS): k8.
Rep r 1 and 2 until all back neckline stitches have been worked.
Note: there will always be 8 sts on the needle.
After finishing the join with the back neckline, graft (invisible seam) the remaining 8 neckline sts to the 8 held sts from the left front opening band of the cardigan.
SLEEVE
Using circular needles with 4 mm tips and a 60 cm cable, pick up and knit 80 (90 - 100) sts evenly around the edge of one armhole. Join in the round and place a b-SM to mark the beginning of the round. Continue in stockinette stitch in the round until the sleeve measures approx. 18 cm from the underarm. Then work 32 rounds in open-work st following diagram 2 and repeating the 8-round vertical rep 4 times in total.
Finish the sleeve by working 8 rounds in garter st in the round, then bind off all sts.
Work the second sleeve as given for the first one.
BELT
Using 4 mm straight needles, cast on 12 sts and work in garter st in back-and-forth r for approx. 150 cm. Bind off all sts.
Weave in all ends. Wet and block. Wear!
