Lizzie Cropped Cardi

Even though much of the country is in the grip of a record-setting heat wave as I write this, before long, many of us will want to knit a light layer to add when we need a little coverage. An office with an overactive air conditioner or a cool theater can demand just a little something from time to time, and this bolero delivers in spades. In designing the Lizzie Cropped Cardi, Diane Zangl went sideways with soft neutrals to make this a flattering design too. The stripes are knit horizontally, but the two pieces are turned to have the stripes appear vertically on the body. Now that's magical knitting!

Design by Diane Zangl

Skill Level

Intermediate

Sizes

Woman's small (medium, large, extra-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) inches
Length: 17 (17 1/2 , 19 1/2 , 19 1/2) inches

Materials

• Berroco Mica (worsted weight; 31% cotton/26% silk/23% nylon/20% linen; 108 yds/40g per hank):
  • 6 (7, 8, 9) hanks mother of pearl #1102 (MC),
  • 2 hanks each abalone #1112 (A), jarosite #1126 (B) and mushroom #1103 (C)
• Size 5 (3.75mm) 29- and 36-inch circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge
• Stitch holders
• Stitch markers

Gauge

24 sts and 30 rows = 4 inches/10cm in K6, P2 Rib.
To save time, take time to check gauge.

Pattern Stitches

K2, P2 Twisted Rib (multiple of 4 sts + 2)
Row 1 (WS): P2-tbl, *k2, p2-tbl; rep from * across.
Row 2 (RS): K2-tbl, *p2, k2-tbl; rep from * across.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 for pat.

K6, P2 Rib (multiple of 6 sts + 2)
Row 1 (WS): K2, *p6, k2; rep from * across.
Row 2 (RS): P2, *k6, p2; rep from * across.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 for pat.

Color stripe sequence
Working in K6, P2 Rib, work *10 rows MC, 6 rows A, 10 rows MC, 6 rows B, 10 rows MC, 6 rows B; rep from *.

Pattern Notes

This cardigan is worked in 2 pieces, which begin at the cuffs and end at the center back.
Row gauge should be accurate for proper fit.
Do not cut main color (MC) after each stripe; carry yarn along edge of contrasting color (CC) stripe, catching it every other row.

Tip: To aid in picking up stitches evenly around edge for ribbed band, place markers on each half at beginning of neck shaping, at beginning of lower edge shaping and at side seams.

Right Half
Sleeve

With MC, cast on 74 (82, 90, 90) sts.
Work even in K2, P2 Twisted Rib for 1 inch, ending with a WS row; inc 8 sts evenly across on last row -- 82 (90, 98, 98) sts.
Change to K6, P2 Rib and Color Stripe sequence and work even until piece measures 5 (5, 6, 6) inches, ending with a WS row.

Body

Cast on 56 (56, 64, 64) sts at end of next 2 rows -- 194 (202, 226, 226) sts.
Working new sts into established pat, work even until body measures 5 1/4 (6, 6 3/4, 7 1/2) inches from cast-on body sts, ending with a WS row.

Back Neck

Next row (RS): Work 103 (107, 119, 119) front sts and place on holder, work to end of row.
Work even on rem 91 (95, 107, 107) sts until body measures 9 (10, 11, 12) inches above cast-on body sts, ending with a WS row.
Place sts on holder.

Front Neck

Slip front sts from holder to needle.
With WS facing, join yarn at neck edge.
Bind off 12 sts, work to end of row -- 91 (95, 107, 107) sts.
Bind off 4 sts at neck edge 9 times -- 55 (59, 71, 71) sts.
Dec 1 st at neck [every row] 2 (4, 6, 8) times, and at the same time, when front is 16 rows short of back above cast-on body sts, dec 1 st at lower edge [every row] 8 times -- 45 (47, 57, 55) sts.
Bind off.

Left Half

Work as for right half until piece measures 5 1/4 (6, 6 3/4, 7 1/2) inches above cast-on body sts, ending with a WS row.

Back Neck

Next row (RS): Work 91 (95, 107, 107) back sts, place rem 103 (107, 119, 119) front sts on holder.
Work even until back measures same as for right half.
Place sts on holder.

Shape Front Neck

Slip front sts from holder to needle.
With RS facing, join yarn at neck edge; work 2 rows even.
Bind off 12 sts, work to end of row -- 91 (95, 107, 107) sts.
Bind off 4 sts at neck edge 9 times -- 55 (59, 71, 71) sts.
Dec 1 st at neck [every row] 2 (4, 6, 8) times, and at the same time, when front is 16 rows short of back above cast-on body sts, dec 1 st at lower edge every row 8 times -- 45 (47, 57, 55) sts.
Bind off.

Finishing

Weave in all ends; block pieces to finished measurements.
Graft center back seam, using Kitchener st.
Sew sleeve and side seams.

Ribbed Edging

With longer needle and MC, beg at center back neck, pick up and knit 1 st in each st, and 3 sts for every 4 rows around entire body, matching st counts for each side; adjust st count, if necessary, to equal a multiple of 4. Place marker for beg of rnd and join.
Ribbing rnd: K1-tbl, *p2, k2-tbl; rep from * to last 3 sts, p2, k1-tbl.
Rep Ribbing rnd 4 times more.
Bind off loosely in rib.

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