Joy-to-Wear Cardi

The free pattern in this newsletter is for a short-sleeved cardigan designed by Joyce Nordstrom. Her Joy-to-Wear Cardi is sure to please those who want a bit of coverage in their summer sweaters. A bonus feature is that it is sized to 3X. The worsted weight cotton blend yarn is great for warm weather because it is lighter and more comfortable than cotton alone. It will work up quickly and add a little dash to summer days or nights!

Skill Level

Intermediate

Sizes

Woman's small (medium, large, extra-large, 2X-large, 3X-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: 36½ (40½, 45½, 48½, 52½, 55¾) inches (buttoned)
Length: 25½ (25¾, 26½, 27¼, 28, 29) inches

Materials

TLC Cotton Plus 51 percent cotton/49 percent acrylic medium weight yarn (178 yds/100g per ball): 6 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) balls medium rose #3707
Size 5 (3.75mm) 29-inch (or longer) circular needle
Size 7 (4.5mm) 29-inch (or longer) circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch holders
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
5 (3/4-inch) buttons

Gauge

20 sts and 25 rows = 4 inches/10cm in St st with larger needles
To save time, take time to check gauge.

Pattern Stitches

A. K4, P2 Rib (multiple of 6 sts + 4)
Row 1 (RS): *K4, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 2: *P4, k2; rep from * to last 4 sts, p4.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 for pat.

B. Beaded Edging (multiple of 6 sts + 4, dec to 5 sts + 3)
Row 1 (RS): *K2tog, yo, ssk, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2tog, yo, ssk. (1 st dec in each 4-st rib)
Row 2: *P3, k2; rep from * to last 3 sts, p3.
Rows 3 and 5: Knit.
Row 4: Purl.

Note: When working Beaded Edging, always work [k2tog, yo, ssk] in K4 section of rib.

Pattern Notes

Yoke is worked from shoulders down to underarms and placed on holders; sleeves are worked from armhole to cuff; the body is then joined at underarm and worked in 1 piece to side-vent split, at which point back and fronts are worked separately.

Pat is worked back and forth; a circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of sts.

Instructions

Back Yoke

With larger needle, cast on 84 (92, 102, 110, 118, 126) sts.

Work in St st until piece measures 9½ (9¾, 10, 10¼, 10½, 11) inches from beg, ending with a WS row. Place all sts on holder or waste yarn.

Front Yokes & Neck Shaping

With RS facing and using larger needle, pick up and knit 26 (29, 33, 36, 39, 42) sts along cast-on edge of back; skip center 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42) back neck sts, with 2nd ball of yarn, pick up and knit rem 26 (29, 33, 36, 39, 42) sts.

Working both sides at once with separate balls of yarn, work in St st and inc 1 st at each neck edge [every 4 rows] 7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) times, then [every 2 rows] 8 times. (41, 45, 50, 54, 58, 62 sts each side)

Work even until fronts measure same as back, ending with a WS row.

Place all sts on holder or waste yarn.

Sleeves

With RS facing, using larger needle and beg at lower edge of yoke, pick up and knit 94 (100, 106, 112, 118, 124) sts along armhole edge. Do not join.

Purl 1 row.

Beg K4, P2 Rib and work 6 rows even.

Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, work in rib as established to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Rep Dec row [every 6th row] 5 times. (82, 88, 94, 100, 106, 112 sts)

Work even until sleeve measures 5¾ (5¾, 6, 6, 6¼, 6½) inches, ending with WS row.

Work Beaded Edging pat. Bind off all sts loosely.

Body

With WS facing, sl right front, back and left front sts to larger needle.

Row 1 (RS): *Knit across left front, cast on 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts, place marker, cast on 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) for underarm; rep from * across back; knit to end. (178, 198, 222, 238, 258, 274 sts)

Work 11 rows even in St st.

Medium, Large, 2X-Large only

Back Dec row (RS): Slipping markers as you come to them, knit to first marker, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before next marker, k2tog, knit to end. (196, 220, 256 sts)

All Sizes

Work even in St st until piece measures 4 inches from underarm, ending with a WS row.

Work even in Rib pat for 7 (7, 7¼, 7½, 7¾, 8) inches, ending with a WS row, and at the same time, on small, extra-large, 3X-large only, on last row, p2tog following each marker. (176, 196, 220, 236, 256, 272 sts)

Left Front Vent

Row 1 (RS): Work 44 (49, 55, 59, 64, 68) sts of left front, place rem sts on holder or waste yarn.

Row 2: Sl 1 (side edge), work in rib as established to end.

Row 3: Work in rib to end.

Rep last 2 rows until piece measures 4¼ (4¼, 4½, 4¾, 5, 5¼) inches from division, or 3/4 inch less than desired length, ending with a WS row.

Work Beaded Edging pat, working [k2tog, yo, ssk] in the K4 panels of the rib.

Bind off loosely.

Back Vent

Sl 88 (98, 110, 118, 128, 136) back sts to larger needle.

Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, work in rib as established to end.

Rep Row 1 until piece measures same as left front to Beaded Edging pat.

Work Beaded Edging pat, working [k2tog, yo, ssk] in the K4 panels of the rib.

Bind off loosely.

Right Front Vent

Sl rem sts to larger needle.

Row 1 (RS): Sl 1 (side edge), work in rib as established to end.

Row 2: Work in rib to end.

Finish as for left front.

Front Edging

With RS facing and using smaller needle, pick up and knit 4 sts for every 5 rows along front to beg of neck shaping; 5 sts for every 6 rows to back neck; 1 st in each st across back neck; 5 sts for every 6 rows to end of neck shaping; 4 sts for every 5 rows to end. Total st count should be a multiple of 6 sts + 2; adjust as necessary on first pat row.

Row 1 (WS): K2, [p4, 2] to end.

Work Beaded Edging pat, working [k2tog, yo, ssk] in the K4 panels of the rib.

Bind off loosely.

Finishing

Weave in all ends. Sew underarm and sleeve seams. Block to finished measurements.

Sew buttons evenly spaced on left front; use facing yo's on right front for buttonholes.