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© Knitty 2002-2006. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. This means you.

 



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This close fitting cardigan features a flattering vertical stripes waist band, an off-shoulder neckline, and crocheted button loops.

Don't be scared off by the small finished measurements! The finished sweater is designed to stretch. I've included a few tips within the pattern to help you get the perfect fit.

model: Jackie Wong photos: Jackie Wong

SIZE
XS[S, M, L, XL, XXL]
to fit chest 32[34, 36, 38, 40, 42] inches
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 30[32, 34, 36, 38, 40] inches
Length from back neck: 15[15.5, 16, 17, 18, 18.5] inches

 

MATERIALS

[MC] Schoeller Esslinger Geisha [20% mohair, 80% acrylic; 233yd/210m per 50g skein]; color: 017 Tiffany Rose; 2[3, 3, 4, 4, 5] skeins
[CC] Schoeller Esslinger Geisha [20% mohair, 80% acrylic; 233yd/210m per 50g skein]; color: 008 Cranberry; 1[1, 1, 1, 2, 2] skeins

US #7/4.5mm circular needle, at least 24 inches long
US E4/3.5mm crochet hook
Stitch markers
Stitch holders or spare circular needles (US #7/4.5mm or smaller)
Buttons or snap tape as desired (22 small buttons used in sample)
Safety pins
Tapestry Needle

 

GAUGE

18 sts/25 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

 
PATTERN NOTES

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

When working striped bands, carry color not in use loosely along side of work.

 
DIRECTIONS

Striped Waist Band
With MC, CO 32 [32, 34, 34, 36, 36] sts.
Set-up Row: [K1, p1] to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 1 [WS]: Switch to CC, k1, p to last st, k1.
Row 2 [RS]: K all sts.
Row 3 [WS]: Switch to MC, k1, p to last st, k1.
Row 4 [RS]: K all sts.

Work these four rows until work measures 28 [30, 32, 34, 36, 38] inches, ending with Row 3.

Next Row: [K1, p1] to last 2 sts, k2. BO all sts.

Upper Body
Using MC and with RS facing, pick up and k 132 [140, 148, 156, 168, 176] sts evenly along one long edge of waist band.
Row 1[WS]: K2, p31[33, 35, 37, 40, 42], place marker, p66[70, 74, 78, 84, 88], place marker, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 [RS]: [K to 1 st before marker, m1, k1, slip marker, k1, m1] twice, k to end. 136[144, 152, 160, 172, 180] sts.
Cont in St st with 2 garter sts at each end of row, until work measures 9 [9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5] inches INCLUDING width of striped band, ending with a RS row.

FITTING NOTE: The top edge of the striped waist band should rest right along the bottom band of your bra while the top of your work reaches your underarms, where the sleeves will join the main body. Depending on the length of your torso and your cup size, you may want to add or subtract a few rows from this upper body section.

Next Row [WS]: K2, [p to 3 [3, 3, 4, 4, 4] sts before marker, BO 6[6, 6, 8, 8, 8] sts] twice, p to last 2 sts, k2. Place all sts on st holder or spare needle. Do not break yarn.

Striped Cuff Bands (Make 2)
With MC, CO 20 sts.
Work as for Striped Waist Band until work measures 8[8.5, 9, 10, 11, 12] inches.
BO all sts.

Sleeves    
Using MC and with RS facing, pick up and k 36[38, 40, 45, 50, 54] sts evenly along one long edge of cuff band.
Work in St st until work measure 4 inches from beg of MC section, ending with a WS row.

FITTING NOTE: This pattern is for three-quarter length sleeves. If you would like the sleeves to be longer, add more rows here before sleeve shaping begins.

*Increase Row: Work 2 sts, m1, work to last 2 sts, m1, work 2 sts.
Work 7[5, 4, 4, 3, 3] rows even.
Rep from * 3[5, 6, 7, 8, 9] times more. 44 [50, 54, 61, 68, 74] sts
Cont in St st until work measures 9[9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11] inches from beg of MC section.
BO 3[3, 3, 4, 4, 4] sts at beg and end of next row. Place rem 38[44, 48, 53, 60, 66] sts on holders or spare circular needles. Break yarn, leaving long tail for sewing sleeve seams.

Yoke
With RS facing, k across sts of right front of body, place marker, k across sts of one sleeve, place marker, k across sts of back of body, place marker, k across sts of one sleeve, place marker, k across sts of left front of body. 200[220, 236, 250, 276, 296] sts.
Cont in St st with edge sts as set, work 1[1, 3, 3, 1, 1] row even.

FITTING NOTE: If you have a larger cup size or want more coverage, you may want to add a small number of plain rows here before starting the raglan shaping. Just be sure to end on a WS row.

Raglan Decrease Row [RS]: [K to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, slip marker, k1, k2tog] 4 times, k to end of row.

Sizes XS, M, L, XL, and XXL Only: Repeat Raglan Decrease Row every 4[_, 2, 2, 2, 2] rows 6[_, 10, 11, 14, 15] times more, ending on the last Decrease Row. 144[_, 148, 154, 156, 168] sts rem.

Size S only: Repeat Raglan Decrease Row every 4 rows 4 times more, then every 2 rows 4 times, ending on the last Decrease Row. 148 sts rem.

Sizes XS and S only: Next Row [WS]: K19[21], [k2tog, k19] 5 times, k2tog, k18[20]. 138[142] sts rem.

P 1 row.

FITTING NOTE: If you have broad/narrow shoulders or simply want a better fit, try on the sweater while you are working the raglan decreases to see how the sweater fits. (Slip the stitches to a longer circular needle or a long piece of yarn first, to avoid dropping sts.) If the neckline is too wide, you can try working an extra row with a few decreases evenly distributed before you move on to the ribbing. If the neck line is way too wide, try adding an extra raglan decrease row (or several) in between the existing decrease rows, or try adding another set of raglan repeat rows after working the ones in the pattern. (e.g. If the pattern calls for "repeat 10 more times", try repeating 11or 12 times instead.) If the neckline is too narrow, try replacing the last raglan decrease row with a plain knit row, or rip back several rows and add more plain stockinette rows between the last few decrease rows.

Neckline Ribbing
Row 1 [RS]: K2[2, 3, 2, 3, 3], [k2, p2] to last 4[4, 5, 4, 5, 5] sts, k to end.
Row 2: K2[2, 3, 2, 3, 3], [p2, k2] to last 4[4, 5, 4, 5, 5] sts, p2, k2[2, 3, 2, 3, 3].
Rep Row 1 once more.
BO all sts in patt.

Bottom Hem Ribbing
Using MC and with RS facing, pick up and k 132 [140, 148, 156, 168, 176] sts evenly along bottom edge of waist band.
Row 1 [WS]: K1, [p2, k2] to last 2 sts, p2, k1.
Row 2 [RS]: K3, [p2, k2] to last st, k1.
Rep these 2 rows until ribbing measures 2 inches.
BO all sts in patt.

 
FINISHING

Sew snap tape along front edges, or follow instructions below for buttons.

Buttons
Space desired number of buttons evenly along left front, starting 0.5" in from top and bottom edges. It is advisable to use many buttons placed closely together, as sweater is tight fitting and widely spaced buttons will cause gaping. Sample sweater has 22 buttons placed approx. 0.75" apart. Sew buttons in place. On right front edge, place safety pins pins opposite buttons, to mark placement for button loops.

Work crocheted button loops along right front edge as follows:
Attach yarn at bottom edge of right front, and work single crochet until just below placement of first button. Chain enough sts to make chain slightly shorter than diameter of button. Leave a space the same length as chain along front of sweater, then resume single crochet until next button placement is reached. Cont until all button loops have been worked, then cont in single crochet to top edge of sweater. Fasten off yarn.

Sleeves
Sew sleeve seams, beginning at underarm and ending at top of cuff. Do not close cuff.
Sew BO sts of sleeve underarm to BO sts of body underarm.

Cuff Edging
With MC, work a row of single crochet along inner (open) edges off each cuff. Add buttons and button loops as for body, if desired.
Weave in all ends.

 

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

It all started as a modest "let's learn to knit" hat for a Christmas
present. Little did Jackie know that 3 years later, she would end up with a huge stash of yarn and way too many sweaters stuffed in her tiny room in Berkeley.

One of these days, she'll get her act together and post all her patterns on her currently non-existent website.