Coordinating lace patterns combine in a cardigan that will go anywhere, from the workplace to a casual weekend get together. The body is made up of openwork and narrow panels, while the lower border and sleeves feature twisted stitches and openwork. You’ll feel just peachy wearing this trendy cardigan!
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Small (medium, large, extra-large) finished chest size 40 (43, 48 51)” without 1.5” front bands
4” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size Medium / 43”
Gauge: 17 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10cm] with larger needles in Body Pattern after a light steaming
18 sts and 22 rows = 4” [10cm] with larger needles in Border/Sleeve Pattern after a light steaming
Materials
Yarn: Berroco Pima 100 (100% Pima Cotton; 219 yards [200 meters]/100 grams): #8429 Zinnea (5 (5, 6, 7) skeins)
Needles: US size 6 (4.0mm) 24 and 36” circulars, US size 7 (4.5mm) 24 and 36” circulars
Notions: Stitch markers, holders, tapestry needle
Abbreviations
CDD (Centered Double Decrease): Sl 2 sts tog knitwise to RH needle, knit next st, pass 2 sl sts over knit st. Center st will lie on top of other 2 sts.
Special Stitches
Border/Sleeve Pattern (multiple of 12 sts +1)
Row 1 (RS): K1, *[k1-tbl, p1] 2 times, k3, [p1, k1-tbl] 2 times; rep from * to last st, k1.
Rows 2 and 4: P1, *[p1-tbl, k1] 2 times, p3, [k1, p1-tbl] 2 times; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 3: K1, *[k1-tbl, p1] 2 times, yo, CDD, yo, [p1, k1-tbl] 2 times; rep from * to last st, k1.
Rep Rows 1-4 for patt.
Body Pattern (multiple of 7 sts 2)
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 (RS): K1, *k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk; rep to last st, k1.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10: Purl.
Rows 12-16: Knit.
Rep Rows 1-16 for patt.
Pattern Notes
This garment uses unit construction, which means each piece is finished as much as possible (bands, seams, etc.) before moving on to the next major piece. This eliminates much of the finishing work at the end – something many knitters dislike.
Circular needles are used to accommodate large number of sts. Do not join, work in rows.
Pattern
Body
With smaller needles and using long-tail method, CO 157 (169, 193, 205) sts.
Knit 7 rows.
Change to larger needles.
Work even in Border/Sleeve Pattern for 17 rows ending with a RS row.
Knit 5 rows, dec (inc, dec, inc) 1 (1, 2, 0) sts on last row. (156 (170, 191, 205) sts)
Change to Body Pattern and work even until piece meas 15 (15, 16, 17)” from CO edge, ending with a WS row.
Divide for Fronts and Back
PM as follows for right front, right underarm, back, left underarm, and left front:
Count 31 (31, 35, 35) sts, pm, 19 (24, 29, 33) sts, pm, 56 (60, 63, 69) sts, pm, 19 (24, 29, 33) sts, pm, 31 (31, 35, 35) sts. (156 (170, 191, 205) sts)
Next Row (RS): Work across right front sts, plus 3 (4, 5, 6) sts of underarm and place on holder.
BO next 13 (16, 19, 21) sts for right underarm.
Work 62 (68, 73, 81) sts for back.
Place rem 47 (51, 59, 62) sts on second holder for left underarm and left front.
Mark center BO st of each underarm.
Back
Working on back sts only, dec 1 st each end of every RS row 3 (4, 5, 6) times (56 (60, 63, 69) sts)
Work even in established patt until back meas 8 (8.5, 9, 9)” above BO underarm sts, ending with a WS row.
Shape Back Neck and Shoulders
Mark center 16 (16, 19, 21) sts.
Next Row (RS): Work to first marker, join second ball of yarn and BO marked center sts, work to end of row.
Working on both sides of neck with separate balls of yarn, dec 1 st at each neck edge every row 3 times, AT THE SAME TIME BO at each arm edge 6 (6, 6, 7) sts twice, then 5 (7, 7, 7) sts once. Fasten off.
Left Front
Sl sts from second holder to larger needle. With RS facing, join yarn a left back edge.
Next Row (RS): BO 13 (16, 19, 21) underarm sts, work to end of row. (34 (35, 40, 41) sts)
Dec 1 st at arm edge every RS row 3 (4, 5, 6) times, AT THE SAME TIME, shape neck by dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 5 (5, 6, 6) times, then every 4th row 6 times. (17 (19, 19, 21) sts)
Work even until armhole meas same as back above BO underarm sts, ending with a WS row.
Shape shoulder
BO at arm edge 6 (6, 6, 7) sts twice, then 5 (7, 7, 7) sts once. Fasten off.
Right Front
Sl sts from first holder to larger needle. With WS facing, join yarn at right underarm. Work as for left front, reversing shaping.
Front Bands
Using Kitchener st, sew shoulder seams.
On each side, place markers in first front neck dec, shoulder seams, and either side of center back neck sts.
With smaller needle and RS facing, beg at lower right front edge, pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows along front edge to neck marker, record number of sts; neck marker to shoulder seam and record number; back neck shaping and record number.
Pick up and knit 1 st in every BO st of center back neck.
Pick up and knit 3 sts for every 4 rows along left edge as recorded for right edge.
Knit 9 rows.
BO all sts.
Sleeves
With smaller needles and using long-tail method, CO 49 (61, 61, 73) sts.
Knit 7 rows.
Change to larger needle.
Work in Border/Sleeve Pattern, inc 1 st each end every 4 (8, 4, 8) rows 12 (6, 12, 6) times. (73 (73, 85, 85) sts)
Work even until Sleeve meas 12 (12, 13, 13)” above CO edge, ending with a WS row. Mark each end st for underarm.
Work even in established patt for 1.25 (1.5, 2, 2.5)” more.
Dec 1 st each end every RS row 3 (4, 5, 6) times. (67 (65, 75, 73) sts)
BO all sts.
Finishing
Sew sleeves into armholes, matching underarm markers of sleeve to center marker of BO underarm sts.
Sew sleeve seams.
Weave in all ends. Steam lightly.
Pattern written with a little confusion on border /sleeve repeats. The k1 at end of set is included in count of each set. The comma after star makes it seem only at end of total row. They should have said k1 at end of each set. It took me a while to figure out but now the count is correct.
Have started this sweater pattern and the problem is that its supposed to be 12 +1 st repeat but its actually 11 +1 repeat.
My calculation is 12 +1 because they are counting the end knit stitches. The repeat is 11 stitches plus 1 on each end. This was poorly written on pattern. Hope I’m right???
I am knitting the Peachy Lace Cardigan and having trouble right off the bat. I have cast on 193 sts and knitted the first 7 rows. But the number of stitches doesn’t come out right after the first row of the body. I have 4 left over. What am I doing wrong? Thanks
Did you decrease 2 stitches on last row before starting the body pattern?
I write notecards, one for each row. Hole punch one corner and put them on a ring. Then flip the card row by row as you knit. You always know where you left off.
I use a separate stitch counter to keep track of rows when working a design in pattern.
Such a lovely cardigan. I am tempted to knit it using Berroco Modern Cotton that has a little more give making knitting more enjoyable, however I am so used to using charts. Do you have a suggestion how to keep track of the rows you are on? Should I make my own chart? Type up directions row by row with room for checking off as I go? Thanks
Hello Eileen! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor