This top-down buttoned cardigan is the perfect summertime evening cover-up. Worked up in a light-colored yarn, this summertime essential is the perfect layering piece for any formal dinner.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL) to fit sizes 32 (36, 38, 40, 44, 48)” or 81 (91.5, 96.5, 102, 112, 122) cm circumference bust; cardigan has approx. 1.5”/4 cm ease
Gauge: 18 sts amd 25 rows = 4” in stockinette on larger sized needles
Materials
Yarn: Berroco Elements (51% wool, 49% nylon; 153 yards [141 meters]/50 grams): Nickel (6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 10) skeins)
Needles: US size 9 (5.5 mm) 32” circular needles, US size 8 (5.0 mm) 32” circular needles (If not using magic-loop, use 16” circular needles or DPN for the sleeve)
Notions: Stitch markers (2 different types or colors), scrap yarn to hold stitches, 1”/2.5 cm buttons
Pattern Notes
This cardigan is knit from the top down. Buttonhole and bands are worked at the same time as the cardigan body.
Pattern
With US size 8 (5.0 mm) needles, CO 85 (93, 105, 105, 115, 115) sts.
Work 5 rows in garter stitch (knitting all sts).
Next Row (WS): Place button band and raglan markers.
With US size 9 (5.5 mmm) needles,
Right Front: K6, PM, K11 (13, 15, 15, 17, 17) sts,
Sleeve: PM, K 11 (11, 13, 13, 15, 15) sts,
Back: PM, K 29 (33, 37, 37, 39, 39) sts,
Sleeve: PM, K 11 (11, 13, 13, 15, 15) sts,
Left Front: PM, K to 6 sts before end of row, PM, K6.
Row 1 (RS): Pattern row, make buttonhole.
Left Front: K6, SM, * K2tog, YO * – rep to 3 sts before next marker, K2tog, YO, K1, YO,
Sleeve: SM, K2, YO, * K2tog, YO * – rep to 3 sts before next marker, K2tog, YO, K1, YO,
Back: SM, K2, YO, * K2tog, YO * – rep to 3 sts before next marker, K2tog, YO, K1, YO,
Sleeve: SM, K2, YO, * K2tog, YO * – rep to 3 sts before next marker, K2tog, YO, K1, YO,
Right Front: SM, K2, YO, * K2tog, YO * – rep to 1 st before next marker, K1, SM, [K1, YO, K2tog, K2].
Work a Buttonhole is worked over the last 6 garter sts of the left-front button band – at end of every 8th RS row: K1, YO, K2tog, K2. On all other RS rows, K last 6 sts.
Row 2 (WS): K all sts, slipping all markers.
Row 3 (RS): Raglan increase row.
Left Front: K6, SM, K to 1 st before next marker, kfb,
Sleeve: SM, K1, kfb, k to 1 st before next marker, kfb,
Back: SM, K1, kfb, k to 1 st before next marker, kfb,
Right Front: SM, K1, kfb, k to next marker, K6.
Row 4 (WS): K6, SM, * P to next marker, SM * – rep 5 times total, SM, K6.
Rows 5-8: Rep Row 3 & 4 two more times.
Row 9: Rep Row 3 one more time.
Row 10 (WS): Rep Row 2.
Row 11 (RS): Pattern row (K last 6 sts, do not work a button hole).
Left Front: K6, SM, * K2tog, YO * – rep to 3 sts before next marker, K2tog, YO, K1, YO,
Sleeve: SM, K2, YO, * K2tog, YO * – rep to 3 sts before next marker, K2tog, YO, K1, YO,
Back: SM, K2, YO, * K2tog, YO * – rep to 3 sts before next marker, K2tog, YO, K1, YO,
Sleeve: SM, K2, YO, * K2tog, YO * – rep to 3 sts before next marker, K2tog, YO, K1, YO,
Right Front: SM, K2, YO, * K2tog, YO * – rep to 1 st before next marker, K1, SM, K6.
Row 12 (WS): Rep Row 2.
Row 13 (RS): Rep Row 3.
Row 14 (WS): Rep Row 4.
Row 15 (RS): Rep Row 3.
Row 16 (WS): Rep Row 4.
Row 17 (RS): Buttonhole Row. Work Row 3 to last 6 sts, SM, [K1, YO, K2tog, K2].
Row 18 (WS): Rep Row 4.
Row 19 (RS): Rep Row 3.
Row 20 (WS): Rep Row 2.
Row 21 (RS): Rep Row 11. (Pattern row)
Row 22 (WS): Rep Row 2.
Row 23 (RS): Rep Row 3.
Row 24 (WS): Rep Row 4.
Row 25 (RS): Rep Row 3.
Row 26 (WS): Rep Row 4.
Row 27 (RS): Rep Row 3.
Row 28 WS): Rep Row 2.
Row 27 (RS): Rep Row 11. (Pattern row)
Row 28 (WS): Rep Row 2.
Row 29 (RS): Rep Row 3.
Row 30 (WS): Rep Row 4.
Row 31 (RS): Buttonhole Row. Work Row 3 to last 6 sts, SM, [K1, YO, K2tog, K2].
From this point forward, continue repeating Rows 2 & 3, working a buttonhole row every 8th RS row until the following stitch count is reached, ending with a WS row:
Each Front: 37 (40, 43, 46, 51, 54) sts
Each Sleeve: 51 (53, 57, 63, 71, 77) sts
Back: 69 (75, 81, 87, 95, 101) sts.
Divide Body and Sleeves
RS Row: * K to sleeve marker, place sleeve sts on holder, remove marker, CO 5 (6, 6, 6, 8, 10) sts using preferred cast-on method (such as backward loop cast-on method, repeat from * once, K to end of row. (153 (167, 179, 191, 213, 229) sts on needles for body)
Body
Continue working in pattern (working buttonholes every 8th RS row) until body measures 9 (9, 10, 11, 11.5, 11.5)”/23 (23, 25, 28, 30, 30) cm from underarm.
With U.S. 8 (5 mm) needles, work 11 rows in garter stitch (knit every row, stop working buttonholes), ending with a WS row. BO all sts purl-wise.
Sleeves
Place sts onto US size 9 (5.5 mm) working needles. Pick-up and knit 5 (6, 6, 6, 8, 10) sts from underarm, place marker, and join in round.
K every round until sleeve measures (1, 2, 2, 3, 3)”/ 2.5 (2.5, 5, 5, 7.5, 7.5) cm from underarm or to desired length. With U.S. 8 (5 mm) needles work 7 rounds in garter stitch (K one round, P one round). BO all sts purl-wise.
Finishing
Weave in ends, sew buttons to right-front band, opposite buttonholes. Block as desired. 