INTRODUCTION

Greywind

by Meghan Babin

Winter has come.

This tribute cardigan is a test of knitting valor featuring flat stranded colorwork and intarsia for a true king or queen of the North.

The cardigan is worked seamlessly from the bottom up with raglan shaping. The button band and shawl collar are worked from held ribbing stitches and attached as you work. The shawl collar is completed with short rows, which are hidden in the ribbing. An optional tubular cast on provides a polished, elegant finish for this royal cardigan.

model: Brendan Macera

photos: Meghan Babin

SIZE

S[M, L, XL, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest (buttoned): 38[42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70] inches / 96.5[106.5, 117, 127, 137, 147.5, 157.5, 167.5, 178] cm
Length (to center back neck): 27.25[28, 28.25, 29.25, 29, 29.5, 29.75, 30.75, 31.5] inches / 69[71, 72, 74.5, 73.5, 75, 75.5, 78, 80] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Hudson + West Co. Forge [70% U.S. Merino, 30% US Corriedale wool; 235 yds/215 m per 100g skein]:
[MC] Ash; 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8] skeins
[CC1] Charcoal; 1[1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3] skeins
[CC2] Fawn; 2[2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] skeins
[CC3] Raven; 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] skeins
Note: A kit is available at Meghan's shop, Hudson + West.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US #7/4.5 mm circular needle, 32-48 inches/80-120 cm long
1 US #5/3.75 mm circular needle, 32 inches/80 cm long
1 US #4/3.5 mm circular needle, 32 inches/80 cm long
1 US #7/4.5 mm circular needle, 16 inches/40 cm long
1 set US #7/4.5 mm DPNs
1 set US #5/3.75 mm DPNs
1 set US #4/3.5 mm DPNs

Notions
US G-6 (4 mm) crochet hook
Waste yarn
Stitch markers
Intarsia bobbins
Tapestry needle
Eight 1.5-inch/38-mm buttons
Thread and a sharp sewing needle

GAUGE

20 sts/28 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch on largest needle.
Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

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

Body is worked flat to accommodate the intarsia motifs.

When changing colors, be sure to twist the new strand around the old strand to prevent gaps in the fabric.

Stranded charts at the hem and yoke are worked flat.

Sleeves are worked in the round and attached to the body at the underarm join.

Yoke is shaped seamlessly with raglan shaping..

Maintain garter selvedge at body edge.

Maintain slip st selvedge at buttonband edge.

Buttonbands are worked from held sts at ribbing and attached as worked on a smaller needle.

Prepare 7 bobbins in advance for intarsia: 4 in MC and 3 in CC3.

The buttons shown on this cardigan are deer antler from Favor Valley Woodworking.

The Tubular cast-on is optional. If a different cast-on is preferred, cast on the number of sts shown in the pattern instructions.

Crochet chain provisional cast on: Using crochet hook and waste yarn, make a slipknot and place on crochet hook. Holding the smallest needle in left hand, chain over the needle the amount of sts indicated in the patt. Break yarn and leave a tail for unraveling later.

PKP (1-to-3 inc): (P1, k1, p1) into 1 st. 2 sts inc'd.

One Row Buttonhole (worked over 5 sts):
Sl 1 wyif, bring yarn to back, (sl 1, pass slipped st over) 4 times; sl last st worked to left hand needle, turn.
Using the cable cast on, CO 6 sts, turn; yb, sl 1 wyib, pass last cast on st over sl st.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

Sleeves (make 2)
Cast on following the instructions for the Tubular Cast-on method below, or, using MC and middle-sized DPNs, cast on 46[48, 48, 50, 50, 50, 50, 50, 56] sts using long-tail or similar method, join to work in the round, pm for beg of rnd, and continue to Ribbing.

Tubular cast-on
Using waste yarn, smallest DPNs, and the crochet provisional cast on, CO 24[25, 25, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 29] sts onto one needle. Divide sts evenly over DPNs.

Row 1 [RS]: Using MC, (k1, yo) to last st, k1. 47[49, 49, 51, 51, 51, 51, 51, 57] sts.

Round 2: Sl st of last rnd to left hand needle and k2tog, sl st just worked back to left hand needle, pm for beg of rnd, sl st back to right hand needle. (P1, sl 1 wyib) to last st of rnd, p1. 1 st dec'd. 46[48, 48, 50, 50, 50, 50, 50, 56] sts.
Round 3: Sl 1 wyib, (sl 1 wyif, k1) to last st, sl 1 wyif.
Round 4: (Sl 1 wyib, p1) to end.
Round 5: (K1, sl 1 wyif) to end.

Change to middle-sized DPNs.

Ribbing
Round 1: (K1, p1) to end.
Rep Round 1 until work measures 3 inches / 7.5 cm from cast-on.

Change to largest DPNs. Remove waste yarn from cast-on if necessary.

Knit 1 rnd.

Sizes S, M, L and 5X only
Inc round: K1, m1L, knit to last st, m1R, k1. 2 sts increased. 48[50, 50, -, -, -, -, -, 58] sts.
Next round: Knit.
Rep last 2 rounds 1[0, 0, -, -, -, -, -, 1] time more. 50[50, 50, -, -, -, -, -, 60] sts.

All Sizes
Break MC.
Attach CC1 and work Rounds 1-21 of Chart A, attaching and breaking CCs as necessary.

Break CC1 and cont with MC only.

Knit 1 round.

Sizes 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X only
Next round: K1, m1L, k to end of rnd. 1 st inc'd. -[-, -, -, -, 51, 51, 51, 61] sts.

All Sizes
Inc round: K1, m1L, knit to last st, m1R, k1. 2 sts increased.
Knit 4[3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1] rounds.
Rep last 5[4, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2] rounds 14[17, 19, 22, 24, 29, 31, 34, 31] times more. 80[86, 90, 96, 100, 111, 115, 121, 125] sts.

Work even if necessary in St st until sleeve measures 18 inches / 45.5 cm.

Next round: BO 5[5, 5, 5, 5, 8, 8, 8, 8] sts, knit to last 5[5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 7, 7] sts, BO rem sts to end of round. 70[76, 80, 86, 90, 96, 100, 106, 110] sts.

Break yarn and place sts on holder. Set aside.

Body
Cast on following the instructions for the Tubular Cast-on method below, or, using MC and middle-sized circ, cast on 209[229, 249, 269, 289, 309, 32, 9 349, 369] sts using long-tail or similar method and continue to Ribbing.

Tubular cast-on
Using waste yarn, smallest circ, and the crochet provisional cast on, CO 106[116, 126, 136, 146, 156, 166, 176, 186] sts.

Row 1 [RS]: Using MC, k1, (k1, yo) to last 2 sts, k2. 209[229, 249, 269, 289, 309, 329, 349, 369] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, (sl 1 wyif, k1) to last 2 sts, sl 2 wyif.
Row 3 [RS]: K1, (k1, sl 1 wyif) to last 2 sts, k2.
Rep Rows 2-3 once more.

Change to middle-sized circ.

Ribbing
Row 1 [WS]: Sl 1 wyif, (p1, k1) to last 2 sts, p1, sl 1 wyif.
Row 2 [RS]: K2, (p1, k1) to last st, k1.
Rep Rows 1-2 until piece measures 3 inches / 7.5 cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

Next row [RS]: Patt 13 and slip these 13 sts to holder. Change to largest long circ and k 89[99, 109, 119, 129, 139, 149, 159, 169] (to center of back), k2tog, knit to last 13 sts, slip last 13 sts of row to holder. 182[202, 222, 242, 262, 282, 302, 322, 342] sts rem.
Next row [WS]: K1, purl to last st, k1.

Work Rows 1-21 of Chart B, working chart repeat a total of 18[20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34] times across each row and attaching and breaking CC as needed. Break CC1 and continue with MC only.

Row 1 [WS]: K1, purl to last st, k1.
Row 2 [RS]: Knit to end.
Rep Rows 1-2 once more, then work Row 1 once.

Work Rows 1-6 of Chart C.

Using CC2, work in St st for 4 rows. Break yarn.

Continue with seven prepared intarsia bobbins as follows:

Begin intarsia:
Set-up row [RS]: Using a CC2 bobbin, k 2[2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6] sts, pm, work Row 1 of Chart D over next 45 sts, attaching a CC3 bobbin and CC2 bobbin as indicated in chart, pm, k 22[32, 40, 50, 60, 70, 78, 88, 98] sts with CC2, pm, work Row 1 of Chart D over next 45 sts, attaching CC3 bobbin and CC2 bobbin as indicated in chart, pm, k 21[31, 39, 49, 59, 69, 77, 87, 97] sts with CC2, pm, work Row 1 of Chart E over next 45 sts, attaching a CC3 bobbin and CC2 bobbin as indicated in chart, pm, k 2[2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6] sts with CC2. 4 CC2 and 3 CC3 bobbins attached.

Next row [WS]: Using CC2, purl to m with CC2, sl m, work Row 2 of Chart E, sl m, purl to m with CC2, sl m, work Row 2 of Chart D, sl m, purl to m with CC2, sl m, work Row 2 of Chart D, sl m, purl to end with CC2.

Work in St st and charts as est until Row 42 of charts has been completed. Break yarn from bobbins, leaving tails for weaving in.

Next row [RS]: Using CC2, k to end, removing all markers.

Using CC2, work in St st for 3 more rows.

Work Rows 1-6 of Chart F.

Continuing with MC only, work in St st until body measures 16.5 inches / 42 cm, ending after a WS row.

Next row [RS]: K 38[43, 48, 53, 58, 61, 66, 71, 76] , BO 10[10, 10, 10, 10, 15, 15, 15, 15] sts, knit until there are 86[96, 106, 116, 126, 131, 141, 151, 161] sts on ndl after BO, BO 10[10, 10, 10, 10, 15, 15, 15, 15] sts, knit to end. 162[182, 202, 222, 242, 252, 272, 292, 312] sts.

Next row [WS]: K1, purl to BO, pm, purl across 70[76, 80, 86, 90, 96, 100, 106, 110] held sts of first sleeve, pm, purl to next BO, pm, purl across 70[76, 80, 86, 90, 96, 100, 106, 110] held sts of second sleeve, pm, purl to end. 302[334, 362, 394, 422, 444, 472, 504, 532] sts.

Yoke

Note: Yoke and neck shaping are worked at the same time. Please read through the next section carefully before proceeding.

Row 1 [RS]: *Knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1, sl m, k1, k2tog; rep from * 3 times more, knit to end. 8 sts dec'd.
Row 2 [WS]: K1, purl to last st, k1.

Next row [RS]: Starting with st 1, work Row 1 of Chart B to 3 sts before first m, using CC1, ssk, k1, sl m, k1, k2tog, starting with st 1, work Row 1 of Chart B to 3 sts before second m, using CC1, ssk, k1, sl m, k1, k2tog, starting with st 1, work Row 1 of Chart B to 3 sts before third m, using CC1, ssk, k1, sl m, k1, k2tog, starting with st 9[4, 9, 4, 9, 7, 2, 7, 2] , work Row 1 of Chart B to end, ending after st 12 of chart. 8 sts dec'd.

This row establishes the chart pattern. When working raglan shaping, maintain the chart patt, working 2 sts each side of raglan markers in St st and CC1.

Work 1 row even in patt.
Raglan dec row [RS]: *Patt to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1, sl m, k1, k2tog; rep from * 3 times more, patt to end. 8 sts dec'd.

Rep last 2 rows 9 times more, ending after Row 21 of Chart B. Cut CC yarns and cont with MC only. 206[238, 266, 298, 326, 348, 376, 408, 436] sts rem: 26[31, 36, 41, 46, 49, 54, 59, 64] sts for Right Front, 46[52, 56, 62, 66, 72, 76, 82, 86] for each Sleeve, 62[72, 82, 92, 102, 107, 117, 127, 137] sts for Back, and 26[31, 36, 41, 46, 48, 53, 58, 63] sts for Left Front.

Maintaining 1 st at each end of every row in garter st, work 3 rows in St st.
Rep Raglan dec row.
Rep last 4 rows 12[11, 9, 8, 4, 3, 1, 1, 0] times more. 104[96, 80, 72, 40, 32, 16, 16, 8] total raglan sts decreased.

Sizes M-5X Only
Work 1 WS row even in patt.
Rep Raglan dec row.
Rep Raglan dec row every RS row -[4, 9, 14, 21, 25, 30, 33, 38] more times. -[40, 80, 120, 176, 208, 248, 272, 312] total raglan sts decreased.

All Sizes
AT THE SAME TIME, when piece measures 22[22, 22.5, 22.5, 22.5, 23, 23, 23.5, 23.5] inches / 56[56, 57, 57, 57, 58.5, 58.5, 59.5, 59.5] cm from cast-on, begin working neck shaping as follows:

Neck dec row [RS]: K1, ssk, patt (including any raglan decreases), to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts dec'd.
Work 3[3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] in patt without neck decreases, including any raglan decreases.
Rep last 4[4, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] rows 8[3, 4, 4, 4, 9, 11, 14, 12] times more, then work Neck dec row once. 20[10, 12, 12, 12, 22, 26, 32, 28] total neck sts decreased.

Sizes M-1X Only
Work 1 WS row in patt.
Work Neck dec row.
Rep last 2 rows -[4, 5, 4, 6, -, -, -, -] times more.. 20[20, 24, 22, 26, 22, 26, 32, 28] total neck sts decreased.

82[82, 82, 84, 84, 86, 86, 88, 88] sts rem after all shaping has been completed.

Note: For all sizes except S, the neck shaping will be completed before the raglan shaping. Continue working neck without shaping while raglan decreases are completed.

BO all sts, removing markers.