Knitty: Spring 2007

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by Jennifer Thurston

The weather getting warmer is always a great opportunity to stop wearing coats and instead cover up with just a knitted cardigan. Since I love them so much, I decided to make a new one for this spring.

This cardigan has retro stripes, raglan sleeves, a fitted shape with wide, loose sleeves, and funky big buttons.

What's not to love?

model: Jennifer Thurston photos: Adam Devine

SIZE

XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X] (shown in size S)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 30[34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62] inches

MATERIALS

Elann Peruvian Highland Wool [100% Highland Wool; 100m per 50g skein];

[MC] Deep Blue Sea; 5[5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9] balls

[CC] New Leaf; 4[4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8] balls
Note: These colors are no longer available, though this yarn has a wide color range with very similar shades to these. Try Admiral Blue and Celery.

1 set US #6/4mm straight needles

1 set US #7/4.5mm straight needles

1 US #6/4mm circular needle, 24 inches or longer

Tapestry needle

Stitch markers

Stitch holders

Safety pins or split ring markers

7 x 1.25-inch buttons

GAUGE

19 sts / 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using US #7/4.5mm needles

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]

Stripe Pattern:
Work 2 rows using CC.
Work 2 rows using MC.
Repeat these 4 rows for Stripe Pattern.

2x2 Rib:
Row 1 [RS]: K2, [p2, k2] to end.
Row 2 [WS]: P2, [k2, p2] to end.
Repeat these 4 rows for 2x2 Rib.

PATTERN

BACK
Using smaller needles and CC, CO 70[78, 90, 98, 106, 118, 126, 138, 146] sts.

Using MC, work 10 rows in 2x2 Rib.

Using larger needles, work in Stripe Pattern as follows:
Work 0[0, 0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4] rows in stockinette stitch.

Next Row [RS]: K19[22, 26, 29, 31, 35, 38, 42, 45], place marker, k2tog tbl, k28[30, 34, 36, 40, 44, 46, 50, 52], k2tog, place marker, k19[22, 26, 29, 31, 35, 38, 42, 45].

Work 5 rows in stockinette stitch.
Decrease Row [RS]: K to marker, k2tog tbl, k to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat these 6 rows 4 times more. 58[66, 78, 86, 94, 106, 114, 126, 134] sts.

Work 7[7, 9, 9, 9, 11, 13, 13, 15] rows in stockinette stitch.

Increase Row [RS]: K to marker, slip marker, m1, k to marker, m1, slip marker, k to end.
Work 5 rows in stockinette stitch.
Repeat these 6 rows 5 times more. 70[78, 90, 98, 106, 118, 126, 138, 146] sts.

Continue in stockinette stitch until work measures 14[14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5, 17, 17.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

Shape Armholes:
BO 3[4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16] sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 64[70, 80, 86, 92, 102, 106, 110, 114] sts.
Decrease Row 1 [RS]: K3, k2tog tbl, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, k3.
Decrease Row 2 [WS]: P3, p2tog, p to last 5 sts, p2tog tbl, p3.
Repeat these 2 rows 0[1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3] times more. 60[62, 72, 74, 80, 90, 90, 94, 98] sts.

Work Decrease Row 1.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 2[3, 5, 6, 7, 25, 24, 24, 23] times more. 54[54, 60, 60, 64, 38, 40, 44, 50] sts.

Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL Only:
Work Decrease Row.
Work 3 rows in stockinette stitch.
Repeat these 4 rows 9[9, 6, 4, 3, -, -, -, -] times more. 34[34, 46, 50, 56, -, -, -, -] sts.

Sizes M, L, XL Only:
Work Decrease Row 1.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows -[-, 4, 6, 8, -, -, -, -] times more. -[-, 36, 36, 38, -, -, -, -] sts.

Sizes 4X, 5X Only:
Work Decrease Row 1.
Work Decrease Row 2.
Repeat these 2 rows -[-, -, -, -, -, -, 0, 1] time more. -[-, -, -, -, -, -, 40, 42] sts.

All Sizes:
There are 34[34, 36, 36, 38, 38, 40, 40, 42] sts.
Place all sts on a st holder.

RIGHT FRONT
Using smaller needles and CC, CO 34[38, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 70, 74] sts.
Using MC, work 10 rows in 2x2 Rib.

Using larger needles, work in Stripe Pattern as follows:
Work 0[0, 0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4] rows in stockinette stitch.

Next Row [RS]: K13[14, 18, 19, 21, 21, 22, 26, 27], k2tog, place marker, k19[22, 26, 29, 31, 35, 38, 42, 45].

Work 5 rows in stockinette stitch.
Decrease Row [RS]: K to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat these 6 rows 4 times more. 28[32, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 64, 68] sts.

Work 7[7, 9, 9, 9, 11, 13, 13, 15] rows in stockinette stitch.

Increase Row [RS]: K to marker, m1, slip marker, k to end.
Work 5 rows in stockinette stitch.
Repeat these 6 rows 5 times more. 34[38, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 70, 74] sts.

Continue in stockinette stitch until work measures 14[14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5, 17, 17.5] inches, ending with a RS row. Make Right Front 1 row longer than Back to beginning of armhole shaping.

Shape Armholes:
Next Row [WS]: BO 3[4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16] sts, p to end. 31[34, 41, 44, 47, 50, 52, 56, 58] sts.
Decrease Row 1 [RS]: K to last 5 sts, k2tog, k3.
Decrease Row 2 [RS]: P3, p2tog, p to end.
Repeat these 2 rows 0[1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3] times more. 29[30, 37, 38, 41, 44, 44, 48, 50] sts.

Work Decrease Row 1.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 2[3, 5, 6, 7, 25, 24, 24, 23] times more. 26[26, 31, 31, 33, 18, 19, 23, 26] sts.

Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL Only:
Work Decrease Row.
Work 3 rows in stockinette stitch.
Repeat these 4 rows 9[9, 6, 4, 3, -, -, -, -] times more. 16[16, 24, 26, 29, -, -, -, -] sts.

Sizes M, L, XL Only:
Work Decrease Row 1.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows -[-, 4, 6, 8, -, -, -, -] times more. -[-, 19, 19, 20, -, -, -, -] sts.

Sizes 4X, 5X Only:
Work Decrease Row 1.
Work Decrease Row 2.
Repeat these 2 rows -[-, -, -, -, -, -, 0, 1] time more. -[-, -, -, -, -, -, 21, 22] sts.

All Sizes:
There are 16[16, 19, 19, 20, 18, 19, 21, 22] sts.
Place all sts on a st holder.

LEFT FRONT
Using smaller needles and CC, CO 34[38, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 70, 74] sts.
Using MC, work 10 rows in 2x2 Rib.

Using larger needles, work in Stripe Pattern as follows:
Work 0[0, 0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4] rows in stockinette stitch.
Next Row [RS]: K19[22, 26, 29, 31, 35, 38, 42, 45], place marker, k2tog tbl, k to end.

Work 5 rows in stockinette stitch.
Decrease Row [RS]: K to marker, k2tog tbl, k to end.
Repeat these 6 rows 4 times more. 28[32, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 64, 68] sts.

Work 7[7, 9, 9, 9, 11, 13, 13, 15] rows in stockinette stitch.

Increase Row [RS]: K to marker, slip marker, m1, k to end.
Work 5 rows in stockinette stitch.
Repeat these 6 rows 5 times more. 34[38, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 70, 74] sts.

Continue in stockinette stitch until work measures 14[14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5, 17, 17.5] inches, ending with a WS row. Make Left Front 1 row shorter than Right Front.

Shape Armholes:
Next Row [RS]: BO 3[4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16] sts, k to end. 31[34, 41, 44, 47, 50, 52, 56, 58] sts.
P 1 row.
Decrease Row 1 [RS]: K3, k2tog tbl, k to end.
Decrease Row 2 [RS]: P to last 5 sts, p2tog tbl, p3.
Repeat these 2 rows 0[1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3] times more. 29[30, 37, 38, 41, 44, 44, 48, 50] sts.

Work Decrease Row 1.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 2[3, 5, 6, 7, 25, 24, 24, 23] times more. 26[26, 31, 31, 33, 18, 19, 23, 26] sts.

Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL Only:
Work Decrease Row 1.
Work 3 rows in stockinette stitch.
Repeat these 4 rows 9[9, 6, 4, 3, -, -, -, -] times more. 16[16, 24, 26, 29, -, -, -, -] sts.

Sizes M, L, XL Only:
Work Decrease Row 1.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows -[-, 4, 6, 8, -, -, -, -] times more. -[-, 19, 19, 20, -, -, -, -] sts.

Sizes 4X, 5X Only:
Work Decrease Row 1.
Work Decrease Row 2.
Repeat these 2 rows -[-, -, -, -, -, -, 0, 1] time more. -[-, -, -, -, -, -, 21, 22] sts.

All Sizes:
There are 16[16, 19, 19, 20, 18, 19, 21, 22] sts.
Place all sts on a st holder.

SLEEVES (Make 2)
Using smaller needles and CC, CO 54[58, 58, 58, 62, 62, 66, 66, 66] sts.
Using MC, work 10 rows in 2x2 Rib.

Using larger needles, work in Stripe Pattern as follows:
Increase Row [RS]: K2, m1, k to last 2 sts, m1, k2.
Work 19[17, 13, 9, 7, 5, 5, 3, 3] rows in stockinette stitch.
Repeat these 20[18, 14, 10, 8, 6, 6, 4, 4] rows 3[4, 6, 5, 12, 9, 9, 23, 25] times more. 62[68, 72, 70, 88, 82, 86, 114, 118] sts.

Sizes L, 2X, 3X Only:
Work Increase Row.
Work -[-, -, 7, -, 3, 3, -, -] rows in stockinette stitch.
Repeat these -[-, -, 8, -, 4, 4, -, -] rows -[-, -, 4, -, 8, 9, -, -] times more. -[-, -, 80, -, 100, 106, -, -] sts.

All Sizes:
Continue in stockinette stitch until work measures 18.5[18.75, 19, 19, 19, 19, 19, 19, 19] inches or desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.

Shape Sleeve Caps:
BO 3[4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16] sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 56[60, 62, 68, 74, 84, 86, 86, 86] sts.

Decrease Row 1 [RS]: K3, k2tog tbl, k to last 5 sts, k2tog, k3.
Decrease Row 2 [RS]: P3, p2tog, p to last 5 sts, p2tog tbl, p3.
Repeat these 2 rows 0[1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3] times more. 52[52, 58, 56, 62, 68, 70, 70, 70] sts.

Work Decrease Row 1.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 3[3, 6, 3, 5, 9, 11, 10, 10] times more. 44[44, 44, 48, 50, 48, 46, 48, 48] sts.

Work Decrease Row 1.
Work 3 rows in stockinette stitch.
Repeat these 4 rows 6[7, 6, 7, 4, 1, 0, 2, 2] times more. 30[28, 30, 32, 40, 44, 44, 42, 42] sts.

Work Decrease Row 1.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 5[4, 4, 5, 8, 10, 10, 8, 8] times more.

Place remaining 18[18, 20, 20, 22, 22, 22, 24, 24] sts on st holder.

FINISHING

Sew Fronts and Back to Sleeves at shaped raglan edges.

On the side of the cardigan on which you wish to work your buttonholes, use safety pins or split ring markers to mark the locations of 7 evenly-spaced buttons. Place one right near the top edge; a collar will be added which will add height to the sweater, and this button will be right below it. Place one near the lower edge, close to the top of the ribbing. Space the others between these. (It's a good idea to place one at the fullest point of the bust; try the sweater on to determine this point.)

Front Bands and Collar
Using circular needle and MC, with RS facing and beginning at lower edge of right front, pick up and k 4 sts for every 5 rows along right front edge, place marker, k all sts from front, sleeve, and back st holders, place marker, pick up and k 4 sts for every 5 rows along left front edge.

Row 1 [WS]: Work in 2x2 Rib to marker, slip marker, m1, work in 2x2 Rib to marker, m1, slip marker, work in 2x2 Rib to end.

Row 2 [RS]: Work in pattern to marker, m1, slip marker, k1, m1, work in pattern to 1 st before marker, m1, k1, slip marker, m1, work in pattern to end.

Row 3 [WS]: Work in pattern to marker, working new sts into rib pattern; p1, work in pattern to 1 st before marker, p1, work in pattern to end.
Rows 2 and 3 set the pattern for the front bands and collar.

Work 3 more rows in pattern.

Next Row [WS]: [Work in pattern to 2 sts before marked location of button, BO 4 sts] until all buttonholes have been bound off, work in pattern to end.

Next Row [RS]: Work in pattern, casting on 4 sts over each set of bound-off sts.

Work 2 more rows in pattern using MC. Break MC.
Work 1 row in pattern using CC. BO all sts in pattern.

Using CC, with RS facing, pick up and k 8 sts along lower edge of one front band.
BO these sts.
Repeat for other front band.

Sew side seams and sleeve seams.
Weave in ends and block as desired.

Sew buttons to front band opposite buttonholes.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Jen is currently training as an accountant, but wishes she had more time to knit.

Her blog is here.