MERINO YAK CARDIGAN
Yarn: MERINO YAK by Laines du Nord
Size S/M: 9½ balls (50 g), col 01 (beige)
Straight needles: size 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm
Circular needles: sizes 4.5 mm tips with 100 cm cable
Others: darning needle with large eye, pins, stitch marker, scissors, tape measure, 3 buttons (2.5 cm diameter).
TENSION
10 x 10 cm = 16 sts and 22 rows in stockinette stitch using 5.5 mm needles.
10 x 10 cm = 17 sts and 24 rows (1 horizontal repeat and 6 vertical repeat of 4 r) in peacock stitch using 5.5 mm needles.
It is very important to check your gauge and measure the tension correctly to achieve the same results and measurements as the pattern.
If the gauge is different, try adjusting the needle size up or down by half a size until you get the correct measurement.
STITCHES USED WITH NEEDLES
1x1 Rib Stitch
Row 1 (RS): (k1, p1) rep to end of r.
Row 2 and following r: work the sts as they appear
Stockinette Stitch
Row 1 (RS): knit all sts to end of.
Row 2 (WS): purl all sts to end of r.
Rep rows 1 and 2 until the required length is reached.
Peacock Stitch: work over a multiple of 17 sts 2 selvedge sts, following diagram 1 and repeating rows 1 to 4 until the desired length is
reached.
Graft Stitch: for tubular grafting with a darning needle.
ABBREVIATIONS
RS = right side of the work
WS = wrong side of the work
col = color(s)
r = row(s)
st(s) = stitch(es)
k = knit
p = purl
incr = increase(s)
decr = decrease(s)
rep = repeat
foll = following
selv = selvedge (RS rows: slip 1 st knit-wise, knit last st; WS rows: slip 1 st purl-wise, purl last st)
bind off = bind off (using the skp technique).
M1 = make 1 (lift horizontal bar between sts with left needle and knit it through the back loop — or purl through the back loop if on WS). When
working M1 increases at the sides of the body, work the first incr after the first selv st, and the second incr before the last selv st of the same
row.
skp = slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped st over (slip 1 st knit-wise, k1, pass slipped st over).
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together(insert the right needle into the next 2 sts on the left needle and knit them together).
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Size shown in the picture: S/M
Back width: 60 cm
Front width (right or left front, excluding neckband and button band): 28 cm at hem, 16 cm at shoulder.
Upper sleeve circumference: 46 cm
Sleeve length: 50 cm
Body length from underarm to hem: 33 cm
Total length: 56 cm
Neckband and button band width: 4 cm
Procedure
DETAILED PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS
BACK
Using 4.5 mm straight needles, cast on 104 sts (a multiple of 17 sts 2 selvedge sts). Work 12 r in 1x1 rib (= 5 cm) for the band. Switch to 5.5
mm needles and continue working in peacock stitch for 32 r (= 21.5 cm). Follow diagram 1, working 6 horizontal repeats (17 sts each), and 8
vertical repeats (rows 1 to 4 repeated 8 times), starting on the WS. Always work the first and last st as selv sts to make seaming easier. Then continue in stockinette stitch for 76 r. At r 77 (total height 56 cm), bind off all sts.
RIGHT FRONT
With 4.5 mm straight needles, cast on 56 sts (54 sts 2 selv sts). Work 12 r in 1x1 rib (= 5 cm) for the band. Switch to 5.5 mm needles and
continue working in peacock stitch (diagram 1) for 32 r, decreasing 3 sts evenly across the first r.: work 3 horizontal repeats (17 sts each) and 8
vertical repeats (rows 1 to 4), starting on the WS and keeping the first and last sts as selv sts. Continue working in stockinette stitch,
decreasing 6 sts evenly across the first r (WS), leaving 47 sts. Then, to shape the neckline, begin decreasing on the right side as follows: on r
2, work 1 decr (skp) over the first 2 sts, then continue decreasing 1 st every 4th r, 18 times — or on r 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46,
50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70 and 74. On r 77 from the beginning of the stockinette section or when work measures 56 cm from the cast-on edge, bind
off the remaining 28 sts.
LEFT FRONT
Work as given for the right front, but shape the neckline on the left edge, reversing the decreases: on r 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70 and 74, work k2tog on the last sts of the r.
SLEEVES
With 4.5 mm straight needles, cast on 44 sts (42 sts 2 selv sts) and 18 r in 1x1 rib (= 7 cm) for the band. Switch to 5.5 mm needles and
continue working in peacock stitch, following diagram 2 for 20 r, repeating the 17-st pattern twice. Across r 1 (WS), increase 1 st at the
beginning and end of the r (these 2 increases are already included in the total st count in the diagram). Then increase 1 st at each side on r 6,
12 and 18. At the end of r 20, switch to stockinette stitch and continue increasing 1 st at each side every 6 r, specifically on r: 24, 30, 36, 42,
48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 78, 84 and 90. At r 92, bind off all 76 sts.
ASSEMBLY AND FINISHING
On the WS of the work, sew the 28 sts of each front shoulder to the corresponding 28 sts at each end of the back piece to close the shoulders.
Band: using the circular needles, pick up 120 sts along the right front selv, 50 sts along the back neckline and 120 sts along the left front selv;
390 sts total. Work 5 r flat in 1x1 rib, keeping the first and last sts as selv sts. Across r 6, work in 1x1 rib as set up and make 3 buttonholes on
the right front band as follows: work a yo 7 sts from the lower edge (including the selv st) and then make 2 more yo, each spaced 19 sts apart.
On r 7, work in 1x1 rib, as set up and close each buttonhole by knitting 2 sts together over each yo to return to the original st count. Work 4 more r in 1x1 rib, then work 2 r in tubular stitch and graft off all sts using a darning needle.
Pin the upper edge of one sleeve along the central section of the side edges of the front and back panels, aligning the sleeve center with the
shoulder seam. Seam the sleeve into place. Repeat for the second sleeve. Then sew the side seams and the underarm seams.
Sew the 3 buttons on the left front band, aligning them with the buttonholes on the right front band.
Weave in all ends. Wet and block.
INSTRUCTIONS
The garment has a relaxed fit, making it suitable for multiple sizes.
The cardigan is worked in 5 separate pieces — right front, left front, back, and sleeves — all knit from the bottom up and joined at the end.
Always work the first and last st of each r as a selv st (or edge st) to facilitate seaming.
For all indicated r on the sleeves, work the first incr after the first selv st, and the second incr before the last selv st.
