by Emma Welford

Sometimes the yarn begets the pattern. Such was the case with Berroco Kodiak, an airy, bulky weight yarn that caught my eye when it first appeared in my LYS. The alpaca blend is beyond lightweight, almost weightless without sacrificing warmth or coziness.

At first I tried to bend Kodiak to my will by knitting it into an intricate cabled pattern where the softness of the yarn would soften the myriad of cables (in theory, at least). Instead, it felt suffocated. I then turned to macro lace and allowed the unique weightlessness of Kodiak to bloom with generous lattice cardigan fronts.

Perfect for wrapping yourself up in, the Cirriform Cardigan features long asymmetrical fronts and a small lace diamond on the upper back. Named after the type of cloud, this top-down raglan will keep you warm in any atmospheric condition while enveloping you in a cloud of softness and style.

Berroco Kodiak is unfortunately discontinued, so substitute with equally floaty and lightweight bulky yarns in order to reproduce the original cloud-like effect.

SIZE
XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size S with about 6 inches of positive ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 35.75[40, 44.5, 48.75, 53.25, 58.75, 63.05] inches
Length: 23.5[24, 24.5, 25.25, 25.75, 26.5, 27] inches from back neck to hem, fronts drape to longer.

MATERIALS
Yarn
Berroco Kodiak [61% Alpaca/24% Nylon/15% Wool; 125yd/115m per 50g skein]; color: 7061 Yupik; 6[7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11] skeins
Comparable substitutes: Blue Sky Alpacas Techno, Schulana Luxair, Lang Malou, Rowan Brushed Fleece.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below — every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #10.5/6.5mm needles for working flat
US #10.5/6.5mm needles for small circumference in the round: DPNs, 1 long circular or 2 short circulars

Notions
6 stitch markers — two of a different style, color or size than the others
scrap yarn for stitch holder
yarn needle

GAUGE
16 sts/19 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

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

Left Front Lace Pattern
(worked over a multiple of 2 sts + 1]
Row 1 [RS]: K1, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.

Right Front Lace Pattern
(worked over a multiple of 2 sts + 3]
Row 1 [RS]: K1, *yo, skp; rep from * to end.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.
Row 3 [RS]: K2, *yo, skp; rep from * until 1 st remains, k1.
Row 4 [WS]: Purl.

Diamond Lace Medallion
(worked over 17 sts]
Row 1 [RS]: K6, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, skp, k6.

Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl.

Row 3 [RS]: K5, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, skp, k5.

Row 5 [RS]: K4, [k2tog, yo] twice, k1, [yo, skp] twice, k4.

Row 7 [RS]: K3, [k2tog, yo] twice, k3, [yo, skp] twice, k3.

Row 9 [RS]: K2, [k2tog, yo] 3 times, k1, [yo, skp] 3 times, k2.

Row 11 [RS]: K1, [k2tog, yo] 3 times, k3, [yo, skp] 3 times, k1.

Row 13 [RS]: [K2tog, yo] 3 times, k5, [yo, skp] 3 times.

Row 15 [RS]: K1, [yo, skp] 3 times, k3, [k2tog, yo] 3 times, k1.

Row 17 [RS]: K2, [yo, skp] 3 times, k1, [k2tog, yo] 3 times, k2.

Row 19 [RS]: K3, [yo, skp] twice, yo, sk2p, yo, [k2tog, yo] twice, k3.

Row 21 [RS]: K4, [yo, skp] twice, k1,[k2tog, yo] twice, k4.

Row 23 [RS]: K5, yo, skp, yo, sk2p, yo, k2tog, yo, k5.

Row 25 [RS]: K6, yo, skp, k1, k2tog, yo, k6.

Row 27 [RS]: K7, yo, sk2p, yo, k7.

Row 28 [WS]: Purl.

Sk2p: Slip 1 st knitwise, k2tog, pass the slipped st over the stitch just knit.

DIRECTIONS
Body
CO 111[129, 147, 169, 187, 213, 231] sts.

In the setup row, you'll place markers to divide off the sleeves for the raglan shaping, and two others to mark the center back for the Diamond Medallion. Use distinct markers for that central 17 sts.

NOTE: Read ahead before you proceed. The Diamond Medallion pattern is worked partway through the raglan shaping.

Setup row [WS]: P33[37, 41, 45, 49, 55, 59], place raglan marker, p8[10, 12, 16, 18, 22, 24], place raglan marker, p6[9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24] sts, place a distinct marker for start of Diamond Pattern, p17, place a second distinct marker for end of Diamond Pattern, p6[9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24], pm place raglan marker p8[10, 12, 16, 18, 22, 24] sts, place raglan marker, p33[37, 41, 45, 49, 55, 59].

Row 1 [RS]: Work Left Front Lace pattern across 33[37, 41, 45, 49, 55, 59] sts to first raglan m, sm, [k1, m1R, k to 1 st before next raglan m, m1L, k1, sm] three times, work Right Front Lace pattern across 33[37, 41, 45, 49, 55, 59] sts. 6 sts increased — 2 each on the sleeves and the back.

Row 2 [WS]: Work Right Front Lace pattern to first raglan marker, p to last raglan marker, work Left Front Lace pattern to end.

Repeat Rows 1 & 2 14[15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20] times more. 201[225, 249, 277, 301, 333, 357] sts.

AT THE SAME TIME, when work measures .5[.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2] inches from beginning, ending with a WS row, begin working Diamond Lace Medallion on a RS row across the 17 sts center back stitches. Continue working increases while working Diamond Medallion and once Medallion is done, remove the center back markers and resume working back in all stockinette.

Once raglan increases are complete, work even as required until work measures 6.5[7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5] inches from beginning, ending with a WS row.

Next row, separate sleeves & body [RS]: *Work in pattern to first m, sm, place next 38[42, 46, 52, 56, 62, 66] sts onto scrap yarn, CO 4 sts across gap, remove m, work in pattern to next m, remove m, place next 38[42, 46, 52, 56, 62, 66] sts aside on waste yarn, CO 4 sts across gap, sm, work in pattern to end. 133[149, 165, 181, 197, 217, 233] sts.

Continue to work in patterns as setL fronts in their respective lace patterns, back and newly cast-on underarm stitches in stockinette. Continue even until work measures 6[6, 6, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5] inches from underarm CO, ending with a WS row.

Next row, increase [RS]: Work in pattern to first m, sm, k2, m1R, k to 2 sts before next m, m1L, k2, sm, work in pattern to end. 2 sts increased.

Work 7 rows even in patterns as set.

Repeat these last 8 rows 3 times more. 141[157, 173, 189, 205, 225, 241] sts.
Continue to work even in patterns as set until work measures 16[16, 16, 16.25, 16.25, 16.5, 16.5] inches from underarm CO.
Work 1 inch in garter stitch then BO loosely.

Sleeves
Starting in the center of the underarm CO sts and using needles for working in the round, pick up and knit 2 sts in underarm, knit across the 38[42, 46, 52, 56, 62, 66] previously held sleeve sts, pick up and knit 2 sts from underarm CO. Join to work in the round—42[46, 50, 56, 60, 66, 70] sts.

Round 1: Knit.
Next round, decrease: K1, k2tog, knit until 3 sts remain, ssk, k1.
Work 10[9, 9, 7, 7, 7, 6] rnds even.
Repeat these last 11[10, 10, 8, 8, 8, 7] rounds 6[7, 7, 9, 9, 10, 11] times more. 28[30, 34, 36, 40, 44, 46] sts remain.

Work even until sleeve measures 18[19, 20, 20, 21, 21, 22] inches.
Work 1 inch in garter stitch (alternate purl and knit rounds) then BO loosely.

FINISHING
With RS facing and using circular/straight needles, starting at front edge of right sleeve (where stockinette meets lace), rejoin yarn pick up and knit 45[55, 65, 79, 89, 103, 113] sts across the tops of the sleeves and the back neck—do not pick up any sts from the tops of the lace fronts.

Row 1 [WS]: K43[53, 63, 77, 87, 101, 111], w&t.
Row 2 [RS]: K41[51, 61, 75, 85, 99, 109], w&t.
Row 3 [WS]: K39[49, 59, 73, 83, 97, 107], w&t
Row 4 [RS]: K37[47, 57, 71, 81, 95, 105], w&t.
Row 5 [WS]: K35[45, 55, 69, 79, 93, 103], w&t.
Row 6 [RS]: K33[43, 53, 67, 77, 91, 101], w&t.
Row 7 [WS]: Knit to end — there is no need to pick up or hide wraps.
BO– there is no need to pick up or hide wraps.

Weave in ends and block.

Emma Welford is a knitwear designer living in Western Massachusetts. When she's not designing nerdy and inspired knitwear, you can find her spinning yarn, pole dancing, or watching episodes from one of Anthony Bourdain's many travel shows.

Follow her work on emmawelford.com