Checkered Cardi

Design by Sandi Prosser

Intarsia blocks enhance the fronts of an elegant cardigan. The motifs are repeated as a band around the back and at lower sleeve edges.

Skill Level

Intermediate

Size

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 (buttoned): 36 1/2 (40, 43, 46) inches
Length: 21 (21, 22 1/2, 23 1/2) inches

Materials

Brown Sheep Handpaint Originals 70 percent mohair/30 percent worsted weight yarn (88 yds/50g per skein): 10 (10, 11,12) skeins plum purple #HP45 (MC), 4 (4, 5, 5) skeins strawberry patch #HP40 (CC)
Size 5 (3.75mm) needles
Size 6 (4mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch holders
7 (3/8-inch) buttons

Gauge

20 sts and 26 rows = 4 inches/10cm in St st with larger needles.
To save time, take time to check gauge.

Pattern Stitch

Seed St

Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * across.
Row 2: *P1, k1; rep from * across.
Rep Rows 1-2 for pat.

Pattern Notes

Block pat is worked using intarsia method. Wind a separate ball or bobbin for each color section. To avoid holes when changing colors, always bring new color up over old.

Back

With CC and smaller needles, cast on 90 (98, 106, 114) sts.
Work even in Seed st for 5 rows. Change to larger needles.
Row 1 (RS): K5 (9, 5, 9) CC, *k8 MC, k8 CC; rep from *, end last rep k5 (9, 5, 9) MC.
Row 2: P5 (9, 5, 9) CC, *p8 MC, p8 CC; rep from *, end last rep p5 (9, 5, 9) MC.
Rows 3-10: Rep Rows 1 and 2.
Row 11: K5 (9, 5, 9) MC, *k8 CC, k8 MC; rep from *, end last rep k5 (9, 5, 9) CC.
Row 12: P5 (9, 5, 9) MC, *p8 CC, p8 MC; rep from *, end last rep p5 (9, 5, 9) CC.
Rows 13-20: Rep Rows 11 and 12.
Rep Rows 1-10. Cut CC.
Work even in MC only until back measures 13 (13, 13 1/2, 14) inches, ending with a WS row.

Shape armholes

Bind off 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. (82, 90, 98, 106 sts)
Work even until armhole measures 8 (8, 9, 9 1/2) inches, ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulders

Bind off 10 (12, 13, 15) sts at beg of next 4 rows.
Bind off rem 42 (42, 46, 46) sts.

Right Front

With CC and smaller needles, cast on 46 (50, 54, 58) sts.
Work in Seed st for 5 rows. Change to larger needles.
Set up pat (RS): K1 (9, 1, 9) CC, *k8 MC, k8 CC; rep from *, end last rep k1 CC (k4 CC, k1 MC, k9 MC).
Work even in established color-block pat until front measures same as for back to underarm.

Shape armhole

Next row (WS): Bind off 4 sts, work to end of row. (42, 46, 50, 54 sts)
Work even until armhole measures 4 1/2 (4 1/2, 5, 5) inches, ending with a WS row.

Shape neck

Next row: Bind off 8 (8, 10, 10) sts, work to end of row. (34, 38, 40, 44 sts)
Work 1 row even.
Dec 1 st at neck edge [every row] 14 times. (20, 24, 26, 30 sts)
Work even until armhole measures same as for back.

Shape shoulders

Bind off at arm edge 10 (12, 13, 15) sts twice.

Left Front

Work as for right front until Seed border is complete. Change to larger needles.
Set up pat on next RS row as follows:
Size small only: K5 MC, *k8 CC, k8 MC; rep from *, end last rep k1 MC.
Size medium only: K9 CC, *k8 MC, k8 CC; rep from *, end last rep k1 CC.
Size large only: K5 MC, *k8 CC, k8 MC; rep from *, end last rep k9 MC.
Size extra-large only: K9 CC, *k8 MC, k8 CC; rep from *, end last rep k1 MC.
Continuing in established color-block pat, work as for right front reversing shaping.
Sew shoulder seams.

Neck Band

With RS facing, using smaller needles and CC, pick up and knit 36 sts along right neck edge, knit across 42 (42, 44, 44) sts from back neck st holder, pick up and knit 36 sts along left neck edge. (114, 114, 116, 116 sts)
Work 3 rows in Seed st.
Bind off all sts in pat.

Sleeves

With CC and smaller needles, cast on 48 sts.
Work as for right front until Seed border is complete. Change to larger needles.

Set up pat

Next row (RS): K8 CC, k8 MC; rep from * across.
Work even in established color-block pat until
3 rows of blocks have been completed. Cut CC.
Working in MC only, inc 1 st each end [every 4th row] 10 (10, 14, 16) times, then [every 6th row] 7 times. (82, 82, 90, 94 sts)
Work even until sleeve measures 18 1/2 (18 1/2, 19 1/2, 19 1/2) inches.

Shape sleeve cap

Mark each end st of last row for underarm.
Work even for 6 more rows.
Bind off 6 sts at the beg of next 6 rows.
Bind off rem 46 (46, 54, 58) sts.

Button Band

With RS facing, using smaller needles and CC, pick up and knit 100 sts evenly along left front edge.
Work 3 rows in Seed st.
Bind off in pat.

Buttonhole Band

With CC and smaller needles, pick up and knit 100 sts evenly along right front edge.
Work 1 row in Seed st.
Next row (RS): Work in pat across 2 sts, *k2tog, yo, pat 14 sts; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2tog, yo, pat 2 sts.
Work 1 row in Seed st.
Bind off in pat.

Assembly

Sew sleeves into armholes, matching underarm marker to first bound-off st of underarm.
Sew side and sleeve seams.
Sew on buttons.