Lace cardigan
Say ‘hello spring’ with this beautifully delicate cardi by Siân Brown – it makes the prettiest gift for mum!
If you’re anything like us, as soon as spring hits you can’t stop looking for the prettiest lace patterns in the softest of yarns. We’ve fallen head over heels for this pretty lilac cardigan by Siân Brown. Knitted in Conway + Bliss Lolli in Parma Violet (08) it’s mainly made up of two different lace patterns, one worked to the hips, followed by the other which is worked to the neck. Finish it off with a simple garter stitch edge throughout.
BACK
Cast on 97 ( 113: 129: 145) sts using 3 mm needles. Knit 3 rows. Change to 4mm needles. Cont in Border Patt as folls: Row 1 (RS) K1, *yo, K2, sk2po, K2, yo, K1; rep from * to end. Row 2 and every WS row Purl. Row 3 K2, *yo, K1, sk2po, K1, yo, K3; rep from * to last 7 sts, yo, K1, sk2po, K1, yo, K2. Row 5 K3, *yo, sk2po, yo, K5; rep from * to last 6 sts, yo, sk2po, yo, K3. Row 6 Purl. These 6 rows set Border Patt. Work 36 more rows as set, ending with a Row 6 and increasing 2 sts evenly across last row. [99 ( 115: 131: 147) sts] Cont in Lace Patt as folls: Row 1 (RS) Knit. Rows 2, 4 & 6 Purl. Row 3 K2, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to last st, K1. Row 5 Knit. Row 7 K2, *yo, skpo, K3, k2tog, yo, K1; rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 8 P3, *yo, p2tog, P1, p2togtbl, yo, P3; rep from * to end.
Row 9 K4, *yo, sk2po, yo, K5; rep from * to last 7 sts, yo, sk2po, yo, K4.
Row 10 P3, *p2togtbl, yo, P1, yo, p2tog, P3; rep from * to end.
Row 11 K2, *k2tog, yo, K3, yo, skpo, K1; rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 12 P1, p2tog, yo, *P5, yo, P3tog, yo; rep from * to last 8 sts, P5, yo, p2tog, P1. These 12 rows set Lace Patt. Cont in patt until Back meas 45cm from cast- on edge, ending with a WS row.
SHAPE SLEEVES
Change to circular needle, working back and forth in rows. Cast on 8 sts at beg of next 2 rows. [115 ( 131: 147: 163) sts] Cont straight until Back meas 62 ( 63: 64: 65) cm from cast- on edge, ending with a WS row.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Cast off 6(7: 8: 9) sts at beg of next 8 rows and 11 ( 13: 15: 17) sts at beg of foll 2 rows. Leave rem 45 ( 49: 53: 57) sts on a spare needle.
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 52 ( 60: 68: 76) sts using 3 mm needles. Knit 3 rows. Change to 4mm needles. Cont in Border Patt as folls: Row 1 (RS) K1, *yo, K2, sk2po, K2, yo, K1; rep from * to last 3 sts, K3. Row 2 and every WS side row K3, P to end.
Row 3 K2, *yo, K1, sk2po, K1, yo, K3; rep from * to last 10 sts, yo, K1, sk2po, K1, yo, K5.
Row 5 K3, *yo, sk2po, yo, K5; rep from * to last 9 sts, yo, sk2po, yo, K6.
Row 6 K3, P to end. These 6 rows set Border Patt with 3 sts in g st for front edging. Work 36 more rows in Border Patt, ending with a Row 6, increasing 1 st at centre of last row. [53 ( 61: 69: 77) sts] Cont in Lace Patt as folls: Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Rows 2, 4 & 6 K3, P to end. Row 3 K2, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to last 3 sts, K3. Row 5 Knit. Row 7 K2, *yo, skpo, K3, k2tog, yo, K1; rep from * to last 3 sts, K3.
Row 8 K3, P2, *yo, p2tog, P1, p2togtbl, yo P3; rep from * to end.
Row 9 K4, *yo, sk2po, yo, K5; rep from * to last 9 sts, yo, sk2po, yo, K6.
Row 10 K3, P2, *p2togtbl, yo, P1, yo, p2tog, P3; rep from * to end.
Row 11 K2, *k2tog, yo, K3, yo, skpo, K1; rep from * to last 3 sts, K3.
Row 12 K3, p2tog, yo, *P5, yo, p3tog, yo; rep from * to last 8 sts, P5, yo, p2tog, P1. These 12 rows set the patt with 3 sts in g st for front edging. Cont in patt until Front meas 45cm from cast- on edge, ending with a WS row.
SHAPE SLEEVE
Next row (RS) Cast on 8 sts, patt to end. [61 ( 69: 77: 85) sts] Work 1 row.
SHAPE FRONT NECK
Next row (RS) Patt to last 10 ( 12: 14: 16) sts, turn and leave 10 ( 12: 14: 16) sts on a holder. [51 ( 57: 63: 69) sts] Dec 1 st at neck edge on every RS row until 35 ( 41: 47: 53) sts rem. Work straight until Front meas the same as Back to shoulder shaping, ending at armhole edge and with a WS row.
SHAPE SHOULDER
Cast off 6(7: 8: 9) sts at beg of next and 3 foll RS rows. Work 1 row. Cast off rem 11 ( 13: 15: 17) sts. Place markers for buttons, the 1st one level with the 1st row of the main patt, the 7th to be in the first row of neckband and the remaining 5 placed evenly between.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 52 ( 60: 68: 76) sts using 3 mm needles. Knit 3 rows. Change to 4mm needles. Cont in Border Patt as folls: Row 1 (RS) K4, *yo, K2, sk2po, K2, yo, K1; rep from * to end. Row 2 and every WS row P to last 3 sts, K3. Row 3 K5, *yo, K1, sk2po, K1, yo, K3; rep from * to last 7 sts, yo, K1, sk2po, K1, yo, K2. Row 5 K6, *yo, sk2po, yo, K5; rep from * to last 6 sts, yo, sk2po, yo, K3. Row 6 P to last 3 sts, K3. These 6 rows set Border Patt with 3 sts in g st for front edging. Work 36 more rows in Border Patt, ending with a Row 6 and increasing 1 st at centre of last row. [53 ( 61: 69: 77) sts] Cont in Lace Patt as folls AT THE SAME TIME working buttonholes at beg of RS rows to match marked rows for buttons on Left Front: Note Each buttonhole is worked as: K1, k2tog, yo, work in patt as set to end. Row 1 (RS) (buttonhole row) K1, k2tog, yo, K to end. Row 2,4 & 6 P to last 3 sts, K3. Row 3 K4, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to last st, K1. Row 5 Knit. Row 7 K4, *yo, skpo, K3, k2tog, yo, K1; rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 8 P3, *yo, p2tog, P1, p2togtbl, yo, P3; rep from * to last 10 sts, yo, p2tog, P1, p2togtbl, yo, P2, K3.
Row 9 K6, *yo, sk2po, yo, K5; rep from * to last 7 sts, yo, sk2po, yo, K4.
Row 10 P3, *p2togtbl, yo, P1, yo, p2tog, P3; rep from * to last 10 sts, p2togtbl, yo, P1, yo, p2tog, P2, K3.
Row 11 K4, *k2tog, yo, K3, yo, skpo, K1; rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 12 P1, p2tog, yo, *P5, yo, p3tog, yo; rep from * to last 10 sts, P5, yo, p2tog, K3. These 12 rows set the patt with 3 sts in g st for front edging. Cont in patt until Front meas 45cm from cast- on edge, ending with a RS row.
SHAPE SLEEVE
Next row ( WS) Cast on 8 sts, patt to end. [61 ( 69: 77: 85) sts]
SHAPE FRONT NECK
Next row (RS) (buttonhole row) K1, k2tog, yo, patt 7 ( 9: 11: 13) sts, place these 10 ( 12: 14: 16) sts on a holder, patt to end. [51 ( 57: 63: 69) sts] Dec 1 st at neck edge on every RS row until 35 ( 41: 47: 53) sts rem. Work straight until Front meas the same as Back to shoulder shaping, ending at armhole edge, ending with a RS row.
SHAPE SHOULDER
Cast off 6(7: 8: 9) sts at beg of next and 3 foll WS rows. Work 1 row. Cast off rem 11 ( 13: 15: 17) sts. NECKBAND Join shoulder seams. With RS facing, using 3 mm needles, place 10 ( 12: 14: 16) front neck sts on needle, pick up and K40 ( 42: 44: 46) sts up right side of front neck, K45 ( 49: 53: 57) sts from back neck, pick up and K40 ( 42: 44: 46) sts down left side of front neck, K10 ( 12: 14: 16) front neck sts from holder. [145 ( 157: 169: 181) sts] Knit 4 rows. Cast off kwise on WS.
SLEEVE BORDER
Cast on 73 ( 81: 89: 97) sts using 3 mm needles. Knit 3 rows. Change to 4mm needles. Cont in Border Patt as folls: Row 1 K1, *yo, K2, sk2po, K2, yo, K1; rep from * to end. Row 2 and every WS row Purl. Row 3 K2, *yo, K1, sk2po, K1, yo, K3; rep from * to last 7 sts, yo, K1, sk2po, K1, yo, K2.
Row 5 K3, *yo, sk2po, yo, K5; rep from * to last 6 sts, yo, sk2po, yo, K3.
Row 6 Purl. These 6 rows set Border Patt. Work 12 more rows, ending with a Row 6. Leave these sts on a spare needle. With RS facing using 3 mm needles, pick up and K73 ( 81: 89: 97) sts along sleeve edge of body sleeve edges, then with RS together, use the three needle method to cast off 1 st tog from each piece.
TO MAKE UP
Join sleeve and side seams. Sew on all the buttons. Weave in ends and gently block to the correct measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band. NEXT ISSUE (158 ON SALE 31 MARCH) DON’T MISS RUTH MADDOCK’S TRADITIONAL ROLL-NECK JUMPER WITH NEAT FAIR ISLE DETAIL.