• Crimson Shaded Cardiagn

Crimson Shaded Cardiagn

Because so many knitters devote hours to knitting gifts for others for Christmas, I like to think of January as a time for knitters to knit for themselves! Why not make this charming collared cardigan for yourself in the middle of winter? Its classic design will always be in style. You can use any worsted weight yarn of your choice. For ease of finishing, the pattern is designed to knit the body in one piece to the armholes. Choose a favorite color because you'll be wearing this cardigan a lot.

Choose this collared design for a cardigan that offers both charm at a holiday party and style in the office conference room.

Design by Scarlet Taylor

Skill Level
Intermediate

Sizes
Woman's small (medium, large, extra-large, 2X-large) Instructions are given for smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses. When only 1 number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Finished Measurements
Chest: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) inches
Length: 21 (21, 21 1/2, 22, 22 1/2) inches

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn* (110 yds/50g per skein): 12 (13, 15, 16, 18)
  skeins Red Rocks #2044
• Size 5 (3.25mm) circular needle
• Size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge
• Tapestry needle
• Stitch holders
• 8 (3/4-inch) buttons* #2240

Click here for schematics.
*Sample project was completed with Desert (100 percent wool) from Classic Elite Yarns, and buttons from JHB International.

Gauge
20 sts and 42 rows = 4 inches/10cm in Sl St Weave pat with larger needles To save time, take time to check gauge.

Special Abbreviation
M1 (Make 1): Inc by making a backward lp over right needle.

Pattern Stitches
A. Sl St Weave (odd number of sts)
Rows 1 and 3 (WS): Purl across.
Row 2 (RS): P1, *sl 1 wyib, p1; rep from * across.
Row 4: P2, *sl 1 wyib, p1; rep from * across, end p1.
Rep Rows 1–4 for pat.

B. K1, P1 Rib (odd number of sts)
Row 1 (RS): K1, *p1, k1; rep from * across.
Row 2: P1, *k1, p1; rep from * across.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 for rib.

Pattern Notes
Cardigan is made in one piece to armholes.
Circular needles are used to accommodate large number of sts. Do not join; work back and forth in rows.

Body
With smaller circular needle, cast on 181 (201, 219, 237, 259) sts.
Work in K1, P1 Rib for approx 1 inch, ending with a RS row.
Change to larger circular needle, beg with Row 1, work in Sl St Weave pat until body measures 13 inches from beg, ending with a WS row.

Divide for fronts & back
Work across first 45 (50, 55, 59, 65) sts, and place on holder for right front; work across center 91 (101, 109, 119, 129) sts, place on holder for back; work across rem 45 (50, 55, 59, 65) sts for left front.

Left Front
Next row (WS): Working on left front sts only, continuing in established pat, work 1 row even.

Shape armhole
At beg of row (armhole edge), bind off [2 (3, 3, 3, 3) sts] once, then bind off 0 (2, 2, 2, 2) sts at armhole edge 0 (2, 2, 3, 3) times. Work 1 row even on rem 43 (43, 48, 50, 56) sts.
Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, complete row in pat.
Rep dec row [every other row] 6 (4, 5, 5, 6) times more. (36, 38, 42, 44, 49 sts)
Work even in pat until armhole measures 51/2 (51/2, 6, 61/2, 7) inches from beg, ending with a RS row.

Shape neck
At beg of WS row (neck edge), bind off [4 sts] 2 (2, 3, 2, 3) times, then [2 sts] 2 (3, 1, 3, 1) times. (24, 24, 28, 30, 35 sts)
Dec row (RS): Work in pat to last 3 sts, end k2tog, k1.
Rep dec row [every other row] 5 (4, 5, 4, 5) times more. (18, 19, 22, 25, 29 sts)
Work even until armhole measures 8 (8, 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2) inches, ending with a WS row.
Bind off all sts for shoulder.

Back
Place center 91 (101, 109, 119, 129) sts on needle for back. With WS facing, join yarn and work in pat across row.

Shape armhole
At beg of row, bind off [2 (3, 3, 3, 3) sts] twice, then [0 (2, 2, 2, 2) sts] 0 (4, 4, 6, 6) times. (87, 87, 95, 101, 111 sts)
Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, work in pat to last 3 sts, end k2tog, k1.
Rep dec row [every other row] 6 (4, 5, 5, 6) times more. (73, 77, 83, 89, 97 sts)
Work even in pat until armhole measures same as front to shoulder, ending with a WS row.
Bind off all sts.

Right Front
Place rem 45 (50, 55, 59, 65) sts on needle for right front, and join yarn with WS facing.

Shape armhole
At beg of row (armhole edge), bind off [2 (3, 3, 3, 3) sts] once, then bind off 0 (2, 2, 2, 2) sts at armhole edge 0 (2, 2, 3, 3) times. (43, 43, 48, 50, 56 sts)
Dec row (RS): Work in pat to last 3 sts, end k2tog, k1.
Rep dec row [every other row] 6 (4, 5, 5, 6) times more. (36, 38, 42, 44, 49 sts)
Work even in pat until armhole measures 5 1/2 (5 1/2, 6, 6 1/2, 7) inches from beg, ending with a WS row.

Shape neck
At beg of RS row (neck edge), bind off [4 sts] 2 (2, 3, 2, 3) times, then [2 sts] 2 (3, 1, 3, 1) times. (24, 24, 28, 30, 35 sts)
Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, work across in pat.
Rep dec row [every other row] 5 (4, 5, 4, 5) times more. (18, 19, 22, 25, 29 sts)
Work even until armhole measures same as back to shoulder.
Bind off rem sts for shoulder.

Sleeves
With smaller circular needle, cast on 45 (45, 45, 53, 53) sts.
Work in K1, P1 Rib for approx 1 inch, ending with a RS row.
Change to larger circular needle, beg with Row 1, work in Sl St Weave pat, inc 1 st by M1 at each edge [every 8th row] 0 (0, 3, 0, 12) times, [every 10th row] 15 (12, 17, 17, 9) times, then [every 12th row] 3 (6, 0, 2, 0) times. (81, 81, 85, 91, 95 sts)
Work even until sleeve measures approx 191/4 (19 3/4, 20 1/4, 20 1/4, 19 3/4) inches from beg, ending with a WS row.

Shape cap
Bind off at beg of row [2 (3, 3, 3, 3) sts] twice, then [0 (2, 2, 2, 2) sts] 0 (4, 4, 6, 6) times.
Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, work in pat to last 3 sts, end k2tog, k1.
Rep dec row [every other row] 6 (4, 5, 5, 6) times more.
Bind off rem 63 (57, 59, 61, 63) sts.

Assembly
Sew shoulder seams.

Collar
Beg at right front edge with smaller needle, RS facing, pick up and knit 91 (91, 97, 97, 97) evenly around neck edge.
Next row (this will be RS or public side of collar when rolled): Work in K1, P1 Rib for approx 1 inch, ending with a RS row.

Inc for collar roll
Inc 6 sts evenly across back neck (between shoulder seams). (97, 97, 103, 103, 103 sts)
Next row (RS): Knit across (knit bumps will not show when collar is rolled).
Continue in K1, P1 Rib, working extra sts into pat, until collar measures approx 3 3/4 inches. Bind off loosely in rib.

Button Band
With RS facing and smaller needle, pick up and knit 103 (103, 105, 109, 111) sts evenly along left front edge.
Work in K1, P1 Rib until band measures approx 1 inch from beg. Bind off loosely in rib.
Place markers for 8 buttons evenly spaced, with first and last buttons 1/2 inch from top and bottom edges.

Buttonhole Band
Work as for button band until band measures approximately 1/2 inch.
Next row: Make buttonholes opposite markers by working [k2tog, yo].
Continue in Rib until band measures same as button band. Bind off loosely in rib.
Set in sleeves, sew sleeve seams. Sew buttons opposite buttonholes.

Copyright© November 2007 Creative Knitting magazine. All rights reserved.