Soft Contrast Cardigan

Time: 1 month pattern

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Finished Bust Size 30.25 (33.75, 38.25, 41.75, 46.25, 49.75, 54.25, 57.75, 62.25, 65.75)” to fit bust 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64)”

0-2.25” positive ease recommended.

Shown in size 33.75”

Gauge: 18 sts and 25 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st using yarn held double after wet blocking

Materials

Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4-ply (75% Wool, 25% Nylon; 436 yards [400 meters]/100 grams): 010 Milk Bottle (A, 3 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5)  balls), 099 Liquorice (B, 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6) balls)

Needles: US size 8 (5.0 mm) 40” and 16” circular, US size 7 (4.5 mm) DPNs

Notions: Markers (6), removable markers (2), spare needles/waste yarn for holding live sts, spare needle for joining rows of live sts

Special Stitches

AA: Work using two strands of color A held together

AB: Work using one strand of color A and one strand of color B held together

BB: Work using two strands of color A held together

Cable cast-on: Turn work so that the non-working side is facing you. *With the working yarn at the back, insert the right needle tip between the first and second sts on the left needle, then pull the working yarn between the sts to create a stitch. Place the new stitch on the left needle tip. Rep from * until you have the required number of sts. Turn the work so the working side is facing you and continue working as directed.

w&t (wrap and turn)

To wrap a knit st: With yarn at back of work, slip next st to RH needle, bring yarn to front of work, and return slipped st back to LH needle. Turn work so p side is facing you and continue following the pattern.

To wrap a purl st: With yarn in front, slip next st to RH needle, bring yarn to back of work, and return slipped st back to LH needle. Turn work so k side is facing you and continue following the pattern.

Pattern Notes

This cardigan is knitted from the top down with set-in sleeves.

Pockets are worked into the fabric of the cardigan towards the hem.

The stitches for the sleeves are picked up around the armholes and the sleeves are knitted down to the cuffs.

The cardigan is finished with an applied i-cord edging that is worked at the end.

The cardigan is knitted using two strands of 4 ply yarn held double, with the top and bottom sections being marled in two strands of the same color and the middle portion being knitted in one strand of each color.

Pattern

Upper Back

Using AA and longer circular needle in the larger size, CO 62 (66, 70, 74, 78, 80, 80, 84, 84, 86) sts.

Set-up Row (WS): P17 (19, 20, 22, 23, 23, 23, 24, 24, 24), pm on cast-on edge (not on the needles), p28 (28, 30, 30, 32, 34, 34, 36, 36, 38), pm on cast on edge (not on the needles), p17 (19, 20, 22, 23, 23, 23, 24, 24, 24).

Short Row

Row 1 (RS): K to second m, k3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4), w&t.

Row 2 (WS): P to second m, p3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4), w&t.

Row 3: K to wrapped st, k3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4), picking up the wrap with the first st, w&t.

Row 4: P to wrapped st, p3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4), picking up the wrap with the first st, w&t.

Rows 5-10: Rep Rows 3-4.

Row 11: K to end, picking up final wrap as you go.

Row 12: P to end, picking up final wrap as you go.

Beg with a RS row, work 39 (42, 41, 44, 45, 43, 47, 51, 54, 56) rows in St st, ending after a RS (WS, RS, WS, RS, RS, RS, RS, WS, WS) row. The Upper Back should now have 42 (45, 44, 47, 48, 46, 50, 54, 57, 59) rows from the top of the armhole to the end of the Upper Back.

Armhole Shaping

Armhole Increase Rows are worked as follows:

Armhole Increase Rows (RS): K1, m1L, k to final st, m1R, k1. (2 sts inc’d)

Armhole Increase Rows (WS): P1, m1Lp, p to final st, m1Rp, p1. (2 sts inc’d)

Work 1 (2, 5, 6, 9, 11, 9, 9, 8, 8) Armhole Increase Row(s), ending after a WS row. (64 (70, 80, 86, 96, 102, 98, 102, 100, 102) sts)

Sizes – (-, -, -, -, -, 54, 58, 62, 66)” Only

Next Row (RS): K to end, CO – (-, -, -, -, -, 6, 7, 4, 5) sts, using the Cable CO method.

Next Row (WS): P to end, CO – (-, -, -, -, -, 6, 7, 4, 5) sts, using the Cable CO method.

Sizes – (-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 62, 66)” Only

Next Row (RS): K to end, cast on – (-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 8, 9) sts, using the Cable CO method.

Next Row (WS): P to end, cast on – (-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 8, 9) sts, using the Cable CO method.

All Sizes

64 (70, 80, 86, 96, 102, 110, 116, 124, 130) sts.

Break yarn. Place Upper Back to one side, either on waste yarn or on a spare needle.

Right Upper Front

Using AA and longer circular needle in the larger size, with RS facing, PU and k17 (19, 20, 22, 23, 23, 23, 24, 24, 24) sts evenly between the Right Shoulder Armhole edge and the first marker in the Back cast-on edge.

Short Row

Row 1 (WS): P3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4), w&t.

Row 2 (RS): K to end.

Row 3 (WS): P to wrapped st, p3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4), picking up the wrap with the first st, w&t.

Row 4 (RS): K to end.

Rows 5-10: Rep Rows 3-4.

Row 11 (WS): P1, pm, p to end, picking up final wrap as you go.

Beg with a RS row, work 42 (46, 48, 52, 56, 56, 60, 64, 68, 70) rows in St st for the Right Upper Front. Over the first 40 (40, 43, 43, 46, 49, 49, 52, 52, 55) rows, you should also work Right Front Neckline Shaping; place a removable marker in the neckline edge of the final increase row. Once you have completed 41 (44, 43, 46, 47, 45, 49, 53, 56, 58) rows after the short row shaping, you should start the Right Armhole Shaping. For some sizes, the Armhole Shaping starts before you have finished the Neckline Shaping; in this case, work the Neckline and Armhole Shaping at the same time.

Right Front Neckline Shaping

Row 1 (RS, shaping row): K to final st, slipping m as you go, m1R, k1. (1 st inc’d)

Row 2 (WS): P to end, slipping m as you go.

Row 3: K to end, slipping m as you go.

Row 4 (WS, shaping row): P1, m1Rp, p to end, slipping m as you go. (1 st inc’d)

Row 5: K to end, slipping marker as you go.

Row 6: P to end.

Rep Rows 1-6 until there are 15 (15, 16, 16, 17, 18, 18, 19, 19, 20) sts between m and the neckline edge of the Upper Right Front. Remove m.

Right Armhole Shaping

Armhole increase rows are worked as follows:

Armhole Increase Rows (RS): K1, m1L, work to end in patt. (1 st inc’d)

Armhole Increase Rows (WS): Work in patt to final st, m1Lp, p1. (1 st inc’d)

Work 1 (2, 5, 6, 9, 11, 9, 9, 8, 8) Armhole Increase Row(s), ending after a WS row.

Sizes – (-, -, -, -, -, 54, 58, 62, 66)” Only

Next Row (RS): K to end.

Next Row (WS): P to end, cast on – (-, -, -, -, -, 6, 7, 4, 5) sts, using the Cable CO method.

Sizes – (-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 62, 66)” Only

Next Row (RS): K to end.

Next Row (WS): P to end, cast on – (-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 8, 9) sts, using the Cable CO method.

All Sizes

32 (35, 40, 43, 48, 51, 55, 58, 62, 65) sts.

Break yarn. Place Right Front sts on hold, either on waste yarn or on a spare needle.

Left Upper Front

Using MC and longer circular needle in the larger size, with RS facing, PU and k17 (19, 20, 22, 23, 23, 23, 24, 24, 24) sts evenly between the second marker in the Back cast-on edge and the Left shoulder armhole edge.

Row 1 (WS): Purl 1 row.

Short Row

Row 1 (RS): K3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4), w&t.

Row 2 (WS): P to end.

Row 3 (RS): K to wrapped st, k3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4), picking up the wrap with the first st, w&t.

Row 4 (WS): P to end.

Rows 5-10: Rep Rows 3-4.

Row 11 (RS): K1, pm, k to end, picking up final wrap as you go.

Beg with a WS row, work 41 (45, 47, 51, 55, 55, 59, 63, 67, 69) rows in St st for the Left Upper Front. Over the first 40 (40, 43, 43, 46, 49, 49, 52, 52, 55) rows, you should also work Left Front Neckline Shaping; place a removable marker in the neckline edge of the final increase row. Once you have completed 40 (40, 43, 43, 46, 49, 49, 52, 52, 55) rows after the short row shaping, you should start the Left Armhole Shaping. For some sizes, the Armhole Shaping starts before you have finished the Neckline Shaping; in this case, work the Neckline and Armhole Shaping at the same time.

Left Front Neckline Shaping

Row 1 (WS, shaping row): P to m, sm, m1Lp, p1. (1 st inc’d)

Row 2 (RS): K to end, slipping m as you go.

Row 3: P to end, slipping m as you go.

Row 4 (RS, shaping row): K1, m1L, k to end. (1 st inc’d)

Row 5: P to end, slipping marker as you go.

Row 6: K to end.

Rep Rows 1-6 until there are 15 (15, 16, 16, 17, 18, 18, 19, 19, 20) sts between m and the neckline edge of the Upper Left Front. Remove m.

Left Armhole Shaping

Armhole increase rows are worked as follows:

Armhole Increase Rows (RS): Work to final st in patt, m1R, k1. (1 st inc’d)

Armhole Increase Rows (RS): P1, m1Rp, work in patt to end. (1 st inc’d)

Work 1 (2, 5, 6, 9, 11, 9, 9, 8, 8) Armhole Increase Row(s), ending after a WS row.

Sizes – (-, -, -, -, -, 54, 58, 62, 66)” Only

Next Row (RS): K to end.

Next Row (WS): P to end, cast on – (-, -, -, -, -, 6, 7, 4, 5) sts, using the Cable CO method.

Sizes – (-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 62, 66)” Only

Next Row (RS): K to end.

Next Row (WS): P to end, cast on – (-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 8, 9) sts, using the Cable CO method.

All Sizes

32 (35, 40, 43, 48, 51, 55, 58, 62, 65) sts.

Body

Rnd 1 (RS, joining rnd): With RS facing and using AA, k32 (35, 40, 43, 48, 51, 55, 58, 62, 65) Left Front sts, CO 2 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts using the backward loop method, pm, CO 2 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts using the backward loop method, k64 (70, 80, 86, 96, 102, 110, 116, 124, 130) Back sts, CO 2 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts using the backward loop method, pm, CO 2 (3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) sts using the backwards loop method, k32 (35, 40, 43, 48, 51, 55, 58, 62, 65) Right Front sts. (136 (152, 172, 188, 208, 224, 244, 260, 280, 296) sts)

The Body is now worked back and forth as one piece.

Beg with a WS row, work 5 (3, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) rows in St st.

Break one strand of A and join in one strand of B. Work 60 (62, 63, 65, 65, 66, 66, 68, 68, 68) rows in St st using AB.

Break the strand of A and join in another strand of B. Work 4 (6, 7, 9, 9, 10, 10, 12, 12, 12) rows in St st using BB, ending after a WS row.

Pocket Positioning and Linings

Row 1 (RS, Pocket positioning row): K4 (6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24), pm, **k25, turn. Working on only these 25 sts, beg with a WS row, work 39 rows in St st. Place these 25 sts on hold, either on waste yarn or on a spare needle. Return to the live body sts and rejoin BB. Starting at the m placed before working the Pocket Lining, CO 25 sts using the Cable CO method, pm**, k5 (7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25), remove m, k back sts, remove m, k5 (7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25), pm; rep from ** to ** for second Pocket Lining, k4 (6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24).

Row 2 (WS): P to m, [p1, k1] 12 times, p1, sm, p to m, sm, [p1, k1] 12 times, p1, sm, p to end.

Row 3: K to m, [k1, p1] 12 times, k1, sm, k to m, sm, [k1, p1] 12 times, k1, sm, k to end.

Rep Rows 2-3 twice more.

Beg with a WS rows, work 33 rows in St st.

Joining Row (RS): [K to m, remove m, place Pocket Lining sts on a spare needle and with Pocket Lining at back, [k 1 main Body st together with 1 Pocket Lining st] 25 times, joining the Pocket Lining to the main Body, remove m] twice, k to end.

Beg with a WS row, work 2 rows in St st.

Next Row (RS, Increase row): K68 (76, 86, 94, 104, 112, 122, 130, 140, 148), m1L, k68 (76, 86, 94, 104, 112, 122, 130, 140, 148). (1 st inc’d, 137 (153, 173, 189, 209, 225, 245, 261, 281, 297) sts)

Main Body Ribbing

Change to smaller needles.

Row 1 (RS): K1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 2 (WS): P1, *p1, k1; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.

Rep Rows 1-2 another 5 times.

BO all sts loosely in patt.

Sleeves

A note on color changes: The sleeves should be worked following the same sequence as the main body: AA, AB, BB. The sleeve caps are worked in AA. Once you have completed the sleeve caps, work a further 6 (6, 5, 6, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) rnds in AA, then the following 48 (49, 50, 51, 53, 56, 56, 57, 57, 59) rnds in AB, the final 48 (50, 50, 51, 53, 56, 56, 58, 58, 59) rnds in BB. To add extra length to the sleeves, add the extra length before starting the sleeve decreases. And remember to change the position of the colour changes accordingly.

Using AA and shorter circular needle in the larger size, PU and k52 (56, 58, 62, 70, 78, 86, 92, 96, 102) sts around armhole, starting at centre of the CO at the base. PM to mark beg of rnd.

Sleeve Cap

The sleeve cap is shaped using short rows that are worked back and forth.

Short Row

Row 1 (RS): K30 (32, 33, 36, 41, 45, 49, 53, 55, 58), w&t.

Row 2 (WS): P8 (8, 8, 10, 12, 12, 12, 14, 14, 14), w&t.

Row 3: K to wrapped st, k wrapped st, working the wrap with the stitch, w&t.

Row 4: P to wrapped st, p wrapped st, working the wrap with the stitch, w&t.

Rep Rows 3-4 another 18 (19, 20, 20, 23, 26, 26, 26, 27, 28) times.

SR5 (WS): K to wrapped st, k wrapped st, working the wrap with the stitch, k to end of rnd.

Main Sleeve

K 6 (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6) rnds.

Sleeve Decreases

First Set of Decreases

Rnds 1-9 (7, 7, 7, -, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3): Knit.

Rnd 10 (8, 8, 8, -, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4): K1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1. (2 sts dec’d; 50 (54, 56, 60, 70, 76, 84, 90, 94, 100) sts)

Rep these 10 (8, 8, 8, -, 6, 5, -, 4, 4) rnds another 2 (9, 9, 5, -, 3, 5, -, 21, 15) times. (46 (36, 38, 50, 70, 70, 74, 90, 52, 70) sts)

Second Set of Decreases

Rnds 1-8 (6, 6, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2): Knit.

Rnd 9 (7, 7, 7, 6, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3): K1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1. (2 sts dec’d; 44 (34, 36, 48, 68, 68, 72, 88, 50, 68) sts)

Rep these 9 (-, -, 7, 6, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3) rnds another 5 (-, -, 5, 14, 13, 15, 22, 2, 11) times. (34 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 42, 44, 46, 46) sts)

Change to DPNs in the smaller size and work 12 (12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12) rnds in 1 x 1 rib.

BO all sts loosely in patt.

I-cord Edging

Starting at the bottom right corner of the cardigan opening, using AA and DPNs in the smaller needle size, CO 4 sts. Do not turn.

Row 1: Slide the sts to the other end of the DPN and carrying the yarn behind the working sts, k3, sl1 pwise wyib, PU 1 st from the edge of the cardigan and k using the working yarn, pass the slipped st over the new st.

Rep Row 1 in each row of the cardigan edge, working an applied i-cord up the front right edge, across the back neck and down the front left edge of the cardigan.

When you reach:

• a colour transition in the cardigan, switch the working yarn to match that of the cardigan
• the final neckline increase row on either side of the neckline, work 2 i-cord rows into each of these rows to help the i-cord transition around the corner.

BO all sts loosely.

Finishing

Weave in all ends.

Using whip stitch, sew the pocket linings to the inside of the main body.

Wash your cardigan according to the instructions given on the ball band. Squeeze out all excess water, then lay the cardigan out to the dimensions given and leave it to dry flat.