INTRODUCTION

April Showers

by Dallas Ann Prentice

April Showers is an open-front cardigan full of swing and bounce. Inspired by Spring, the lower half mimics the underside of the season's ubiquitous umbrella. The built in i-cord edge complements the rolled edge on the front and sleeves, contrasting with the raw edge of the almost scalloped hem.

As this design was starting to percolate in the back of my mind, I found a local artist online by the name of Jessica McGhee. Her vulnerability and genuine honesty as she shared her journey spoke to me on a deeply personal level. The words and images she shared encouraged me to continue to pursue my dreams as she sought out her own. When I discovered her new mural had a Spring-like quality to it, I knew exactly where April Shower's pictures had to be taken. As we were wrapping up the photo shoot, Jessica herself showed up to put the finishing touches on the other end of the mural! It was lovely to have that moment of connection and to share a bit of my own experiences with her.

The cardigan begins in a traditional top-down raglan construction until you divide for the sleeves. At that point, the sweater is worked vertically from the left front around the body to the right front. This construction is flattered by variegated and tonal sock yarn --something almost every knitter has in their stash. Yardage requirements are very low for a sweater, making April Showers the perfect cardigan for stash busting, and a quick knit for your Spring wardrobe.

model: Dallas Ann Prentice

photos: Tammy Smith

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size M with 0.5 inches/1 cm of ease at back bust width


FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Back Bust Width: 15.75[17.5, 19.75, 21.5, 23.75, 25.75, 27.75] inches / 62[63.5, 65, 66, 68.5, 70, 72.5] cm
Length: 24.5[25, 25.5, 26, 27, 27.5, 28.5] inches / 62[63.5, 65, 66, 68.5, 70, 72.5] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Leading Men Fiber Arts Show Stealer [80% superwash merino, 10% nylon, 10% cashmere; 435yd/398m per 3.5oz/100g skein];
[MC] Sea Weed; 2[2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4] skeins
[CC] Nude Scene; 1[1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US #6/4mm circular needle, 40 inches/100 cm long
1 US #4/3.5mm circular needle, 40 inches/100 cm long
US #4/3.5mm circular needle for small circumference in the round

Notions
stitch holders or waste yarn
smooth waste yarn for provisional cast-on
18[20, 22, 24, 24, 30, 32] removable stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

22 sts/33 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

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

Stitches are slipped purlwise with yarn on WS unless otherwise noted.

The Reverse Stockinette Band of the Upper Body should start immediately under the bra band. Try on the sweater to check length. Since every person is individual, you may need to add or subtract length to reach this point.

Techniques:

• Use a flexible BO for all BO sts, such as Jeny's Super Stretchy Bind Off.
• Provisional cast-on

DIRECTIONS

Yoke
With MC and larger needles, provisionally cast on 46[48, 52, 56, 60, 62, 66] sts.

Set-up row [WS]: P1, pm, p 5[5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 7] , pm, p 34[36, 40, 44, 44, 46, 50] , pm, p 5[5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 7] , pm, p1.
Next row [RS]: Sl 1, yo, *sl m, k1, yo, k to 1 st before m, yo, k1; repeat from * twice more, sl m, yo, k1. 54[56, 60, 64, 68, 70, 74] sts.
Next row [WS]: Sl 1, p to end.

Raglan increase row [RS]: Sl 1, *k to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, sl m, k1, yo; repeat from * 3 times more, k to end. 8 sts increased.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, p to end.
Repeat last 2 rows 19[22, 26, 29, 29, 31, 34] times more. 214[240, 276, 304, 308, 326, 354] sts: 22[25, 29, 32, 32, 34, 37] sts for each Front; 47[53, 61, 67, 69, 73, 79] sts for each Sleeve, 76[84, 96, 106, 106, 112, 122] sts for Back.

Size XS ONLY:
Sleeve inc row [RS]: Sl 1, *k to m, sl m, k1, yo, k to 1 st before next m, yo, k1, sl m; repeat from * once more, k to end. 4 sts increased.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, p to end.
Repeat last 2 rows once more. 222 total sts: 22 sts for each Front, 51 sts for each sleeve, 76 sts for Back.

Sizes 1X, 2X, 3X ONLY:
Body inc row [RS]: Sl 1, *k to 1 st before m, yo, k1, sl m, knit to next m, sl m, k1, yo; repeat from * once more, k to end. 4 sts increased.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, p to end.
Repeat last 2 rows -[-, -, -, 2, 4, 3] times more. -[-, -, -, 320, 346, 370] total sts: -[-, -, -, 35, 39, 41] sts for each Front, -[-, -, -, 69, 73, 79] sts for each Sleeve, -[-, -, -, 112, 122, 130] sts for Back.

All Sizes:
Work even in St st, slipping the first st of every row, until work measures 6.5[7, 7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 10.25] inches / 16.5[18, 19.5, 21, 22, 23.5, 26] cm from cast-on.

Divide for Sleeves:
Note: Remove all markers while working next row.
Dividing row [RS]: K 22[25, 29, 32, 35, 39, 41] , slip next 51[53, 61, 67, 69, 73, 79] sts onto holder, CO 10[12, 12, 12, 18, 20, 22] sts, k 76[84, 96, 106, 112, 122, 130] , slip next 51[53, 61, 67, 69, 73, 79] sts onto holder, CO 10[12, 12, 12, 18, 20, 22] sts, k to end. 140[158, 178, 194, 218, 240, 256] sts.

Upper Body
Row 1 [WS]: Sl 1, p to end.
Row 2 [RS]: Sl 1, k to end.

Cont in St st, slipping the first st of every row, until work measures 3 inches/7.5 cm from sleeve division or desired length to underbust (see Pattern Notes), ending after a WS row.

Note: Carry MC down side edge of every row.

With CC only:
Row 1 [RS]: Sl 1, k to end.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1, k to end.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl 1, p to end.
Repeat last 2 rows three times more, then rep Row 2, 1[0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1] time.

Sizes S[2X] ONLY:
Next row [WS]: Sl 1, k [119, -, -, -, 127, ] , M1, k to end. -[159, -, -, -, 241, ] sts.

Sizes 1X ONLY:
Next row [WS]: Sl 1, k107, k2tog, k to end. 216 sts.

All sizes:
Next row [RS]:Sl 1, (k28[31, 35, 38, 43, 48, 51], M1) 4 times, k to end. 144[163, 182, 198, 220, 245, 260] sts.
Break CC.

Place removable stitch markers in work as follows:
Count 6[12, 9, 9, 9, 9, 8] sts, pm, *count 4 sts, pm, count 12[11, 12, 12, 14, 12, 12] sts, pm; rep from * 7[8, 9, 10, 10, 13, 14] times more, count 4 sts, pm, count 6[12, 9, 9, 9, 9, 8] sts to end.

Lower Body
With the MC that has been carried down at the beginning of RS row and with RS facing, CO 73 sts onto beginning of needle using cable cast-on.

Note: Lower Body sts will be joined to the sts for the Upper Body at the end of every RS row. Work for Lower Body begins at left front edge. Remove markers as you work the Upper Body sts; a marker is removed at the end of every Flared Column Section and MC section.

Row 1 [RS]: K72, k2tog. Turn.
Row 2 [WS]: P70, sl 3 sts wyif. Turn.
Repeat last 2 rows 5[11, 8, 8, 8, 8, 7] times more.

Break MC and join CC.

**Flared Column Section
Note: Work wraps with wrapped sts as you pass them.
Row 1 [RS]: K72, k2tog. Turn.
Row 2 and every foll WS row: K to end.
Row 3: P10, w&t.
Row 5: P5, w&t.
Rows 7 & 9: P72, k2tog. Turn.
Row 11: P5, w&t.
Row 13: P10, w&t.
Row 15: P72, k2tog. Turn.
Row 16 [WS]: K to end.
Break CC and join MC.

MC Section
Row 1 [RS]: K72, k2tog. Turn.
Row 2 [WS]: P70, sl 3 sts wyif. Turn.
Repeat last 2 rows 11[10, 11, 11, 13, 11, 11] times more.

Break MC and join CC.

Repeat from ** 7[8, 9, 10, 10, 13, 14] times more, then repeat Flared Column Section once.

Continue with MC only.

Row 1 [RS]: K72, k2tog. Turn.
Row 2 [WS]: P70, sl 3 sts wyif. Turn.
Repeat last 2 rows 4[10, 7, 7, 7, 6, 6] times more. 74 total sts remain: 73 sts for Lower Body, 1 st for Upper Body.

Next row [RS]: BO fairly loosely to last 2 sts, k last 2 sts together, BO remaining st.

Sleeves
With smaller needle for working small circumference in the round, slip 51[53, 61, 67, 69, 73, 79] sts held for first sleeve to needle, pick up (do not knit) 11[13, 13, 13, 19, 21, 23] sts across underarm. 62[66, 74, 80, 88, 94, 102] sts.

Join CC and begin to work in the round as follows:

Round 1: (K1, p1) to end.
Rounds 2-6: Knit.
BO all sts.

Repeat for second sleeve.

Collar and Front Edges
With RS facing, starting at bottom edge of right front, and using smaller circ, pick up (do not knit) 73 sts across cast-on edge of Lower Body, then 3 sts for every 4 rows to cast-on sts to yoke. Carefully undo waste yarn from provisional cast-on and slip 46[48, 52, 56, 60, 62, 66] sts to needle. Pick up (do not knit) 3 sts for every 4 rows down left front of Yoke and Upper Body, then pick up and knit 73 sts down cast-off edge of Lower Body, adjusting if needed so there are an odd number of total sts on needle.

With RS facing, join CC to beginning of row.

Row 1 [RS]: (K1, p1) to last st, k1.
Work 7 rows in St st.
BO knitwise.

SCHEMATIC MEASUREMENTS
A: Back neck width: 6.25[6.5, 7.25, 8, 8, 8.25, 9] inches / 16[16.5, 18.5, 20.5, 20.5, 21, 23] cm
B: Yoke length: 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9.5, 10, 11] inches / 18[19, 20.5, 21.5, 24, 25.5, 28] cm
C: Upper Body length: 4.25 inches / 11 cm
D: Back bust width: 15.75[17.5, 19.75, 21.5, 23.75, 25.75, 27.75] inches / 40[44.5, 50, 54.5, 60.5, 65.5, 70.5] cm
E: Lower Body length: 13.25 inches / 33.5 cm
F: Sleeve length: 0.75 inches / 2 cm
G: Sleeve circumference (stretched): 11.25[12, 13.5, 14.5, 16, 17, 18.5] inches / 28.5[30.5, 34.5, 37, 40.5, 43, 47] cm

FINISHING

Weave in ends and block to measurements.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Dallas Ann's walk is like a shot of whiskey. Neat and strong and full of purpose. When not eating all the food that's safe for her, she can be found with knitting in hand and notebook out, perpetually designing the pieces that manifest in her sleep.

You can find more about her designs and podcast, Knitting Myself Together.

Pattern & images © 2018 Dallas Ann Prentice.