Party piece
Ring in the New Year with Anniken Allis’ elegant jewel of a cardi – with an easy-repeat lace pattern.
Throw this elegant cardigan on over your favourite party dress to bring the whole outfit together. Use a striking extra-long rib hem to frame the easy-to-knit lace pattern. Add contrasting stocking stitch sleeves to keep the attention on those lacy stitches, and finish the entire look off with a set of delicate shell buttons.
BACK
Cast on 106 ( 118: 130: 142: 154) sts. Row 1 (RS) K2, *P2, K2; rep from * to end. Row 2 P2, *K2, P2; rep from * to end. Rep last 2 rows until piece meas 8cm, ending with a RS row. Next row ( WS) P to end, increasing 1 ( 3: 3: 3: 3) sts evenly across row. [107 ( 121: 133: 145: 157) sts] Row 1 (RS) Work Row 1 of Chart, beg with st 2 ( 5: 9: 3: 7) and ending with st 8 ( 5: 1: 7: 3). Where you can’t work a corresponding inc and dec, work in st st. Row 2 and all foll WS rows Purl. Last 2 rows set Chart placement. Cont working through all 12 rows of Chart until Back measures 30 ( 30.5: 31.5: 31.5: 32) cm from cast- on edge, ending with a WS row.
SHAPE ARMHOLE
Cast off 4( 5: 6: 7: 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [99 ( 111: 121: 131: 141) sts] Row 1 (RS) K2, ssk, work in pattern to last 4 sts, k2tog, K2. [2 sts dec’d] Row 2 P2, p2tog, P to last 4 sts, p2togtbl, P2. [2 sts dec’d] Dec as set by last 2 rows on next row and foll 2 ( 5: 7: 8: 10) RS rows, then foll 1 ( 1: 1: 2: 2) 4th rows. [87 ( 93: 99: 105: 111) sts] Cont working in lace pattern as established until Back measures 50 ( 51.5:
53.5: 55: 57) cm from cast- on edge, ending with a WS row.
SHAPE RIGHT NECK
Row 1 (RS) Work in pattern for 24 ( 25: 27: 28: 29) sts, turn and leave rem sts on a holder. Row 2 P1, p2tog, P to end. [23 ( 24: 26: 27: 28) sts] Row 3 Work in pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [22 ( 23: 25: 26: 27) sts]
SHAPE RIGHT SHOULDER
Row 1 ( WS) P14 ( 15: 16: 17: 18) sts, w& t. Row 2 Work in pattern to end. Row 3 P7 ( 7: 8: 8: 8) sts, w& t. Row 4 Work in pattern to end. Row 5 P to end, working sts tog with wraps as they appear. Leave sts on a holder.
SHAPE LEFT NECK
Leave 39 ( 43: 45: 49: 53) sts on a holder for back- neck. Rejoin yarn with RS facing at left- neck edge. Row 1 (RS) Work in pattern to end. [24 ( 25: 27: 28: 29) sts] Row 2 P to last 3 sts, p2togtbl, P2. [23 ( 24: 26: 27: 28) sts] Row 3 K1, ssk, work in pattern to end. [22 ( 23: 25: 26: 27) sts] Row 4 Purl.
SHAPE LEFT SHOULDER
Row 1 (RS) Work in pattern for 14 ( 15: 16: 17: 18) sts, w& t. Row 2 Purl. Row 3 Work in pattern for 7 ( 7: 8: 8: 8) sts, w& t. Row 4 Purl. Row 5 Work in pattern to end, working sts tog with wraps as they appear.
Leave sts on a holder.
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 50 ( 58: 62: 70: 74) sts. Work rib as for Back. Next row ( WS) Purl, inc 2 ( 1: 3: 1: 3) evenly across row. [52 ( 59: 65: 71: 77) sts] ** Row 1 (RS) Work Row 1 of Chart, beg with st 10 ( 3: 7: 1: 5) and ending with st 10, leaving 1 st to work at end of row, K1. Where you can’t work a corresponding inc and dec, work in st st. Row 2 Purl. Last 2 rows set Chart placement. Continue working through all 12 rows of the Chart until the Left Front measures 30 ( 30.5: 31.5: 31.5: 32) cm from cast- on edge ending with a WS row.
SHAPE ARMHOLE
Cast off 4( 5: 6: 7: 8) sts at beg of next row. [48 ( 54: 59: 64: 69) sts] Next row Purl. Row 1 (RS) K2, ssk, work in pattern to end. [1 st dec’d] Row 2 P to last 4 sts, p2togtbl, P2. [1 st dec’d] Dec as set by last 2 rows on next row, and at beg of 2 ( 5: 7: 8: 10) foll RS rows, then 1 ( 1: 1: 2: 2) foll 4th rows. [42 ( 45: 48: 51: 54) sts] Work 1 row straight.
SHAPE LEFT NECK
Row 1 (RS) Work in pattern for 28 ( 30: 33: 35: 38) sts, turn and leave rem 14 ( 15: 15: 16: 16) sts on a holder for front- neck. Row 2 P1, p2tog, P to end. [1 st dec’d] Row 3 Work in pattern to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [1 st dec’d] Rep last 2 rows twice more, and then dec as set on foll 0 ( 1: 2: 3: 5) RS rows. [22 ( 23: 25: 26: 27) sts] Continue working in pattern until Left Front matches Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with a RS row.
SHAPE LEFT SHOULDER
Row 1 ( WS) P14 ( 15: 16: 17: 18) sts, w& t. Row 2 Work in pattern to end. Row 3 P7 ( 7: 8: 8: 8) sts, w& t. Row 4 Work in pattern to end. Row 5 P to end, working sts tog with wraps as they appear. Leave sts on a holder.
RIGHT FRONT
Work as for Left Front to **. [52 ( 59: 65: 71: 77) sts] Row 1 (RS) K1, work Row 1 of Chart, beg
with st 10 and ending with st 10 ( 7: 3: 9:
5). Where you can’t work a corresponding inc and dec, work in st st.
Row 2 Purl. Last 2 rows set Chart placement. Continue working through all 12 rows of the Chart until Right Front measures 30 ( 30.5: 31.5: 31.5: 32) cm from cast- on edge ending with a WS row. Work 1 row straight. Cast off 4( 5: 6: 7: 8) sts at beg of next row. [48 ( 54: 59: 64: 69) sts] Row 1 (RS) Work in patt to last 4 sts, k2tog, K2. [1 st dec’d] Row 2 ( WS) P2, p2tog, P to end. [1 st dec’d] Dec as set on next row, at end of 2 ( 5: 7: 8: 10) foll RS rows and 1 ( 1: 1: 2: 2) foll 4th rows. [42 ( 45: 48: 51: 54) sts] Work 1 row straight.
SHAPE RIGHT NECK
Row 1 (RS) Leave first 14 ( 15: 15: 16: 16) sts on a holder for front neck. Rejoin yarn to right neck edge and work in pattern to end. [28 ( 30: 33: 35: 38) sts] Row 2 P to last 3 sts, p2togtbl, P1. [1 st dec’d] Row 3 K1, ssk, work in pattern to end. [1 st dec’d] Rep last 2 rows twice more, and then dec as set on foll 0 ( 1: 2: 3: 5) RS rows. [22 ( 23: 25: 26: 27) sts] Continue working in pattern until Right Front matches Back to shoulder shaping, ending with a WS row.
SHAPE RIGHT SHOULDER
Row 1 (RS) Work in pattern for 14 ( 15: 16: 17: 18) sts, w& t. Row 2 Purl. Row 3 Work in pattern for 7 ( 7: 8: 8: 8) sts, w& t. Row 4 Purl. Row 5 Work in pattern to end, working sts tog with wraps as they appear. Leave sts on a holder.
SLEEVES
Sleeves are worked in st st throughout. Cast on 66 ( 70: 74: 82: 86) sts. Work rib as for Back for a total of 4cm, ending with a WS row. Commence st st, beg with a knit row and increase as follows: Row 1 (RS) K2, M1, K to last 2 sts, M1, K2. [2 sts inc’d] Work 7 rows in st st. Rep last 8 rows a further 4 times. [76 ( 80: 84: 92: 96) sts] Continue working in st st until Sleeve measures 22 ( 22.5: 23: 23.5: 24) cm from cast- on edge, ending with a WS row.
SHAPE SLEEVE CAP
Cast off 4( 5: 6: 7: 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [68 ( 70: 72: 78: 80) sts] Dec as set by Back at each end of next 3 rows, 3 ( 1: 0: 0: 0) foll RS rows, and 6 ( 9: 11: 13: 4) foll 4th rows. Work 0 ( 0: 0: 0: 16) rows straight, then dec at each end of 0 ( 0: 0: 0: 5) foll 4th rows, 3 ( 1: 0: 0: 0) foll RS rows and next 2 ( 2: 2: 2: 4) rows. [34 ( 38: 40: 42: 48) sts] Cast off 4( 5: 5: 6: 7) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [26 ( 28: 30: 30: 34) sts] Cast off 4( 5: 6: 6: 7) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [18 ( 18: 18: 18: 20) sts] Cast off rem sts.
TO MAKE UP
Block gently to measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band. Join both shoulders by working a three- needle cast off with RS facing together. Set in Sleeves and seam side seams and Sleeve seams.
NECK EDGE
Using circular needle if preferred, and beg at Right Front neck with RS facing, K14 ( 15: 15: 16: 16) from Right Front neck st holder, pick up and K46 ( 47: 48: 49: 51) sts to Right shoulder, pick up and K5 to Back neck, K39 ( 43: 45: 49: 53) from Back neck st holder, pick up and K5 to Left shoulder, pick up and K46 ( 47: 48: 49: 51) to Left Front, K14 ( 15: 15: 16: 16) from Left Front neck st holder. [169 ( 177: 181: 189: 197) sts] Knit 3 rows. Cast off.
LEFT FRONT BUTTON BAND
Starting at the top edge, pick up and K80 ( 84: 88: 90: 94) sts along front edge. Knit 3 rows. Cast off.
RIGHT FRONT BUTTON BAND
Starting at the bottom edge, pick up and K80 ( 84: 88: 90: 94) sts along front edge. Knit 1 row. Next row (RS) K6 ( 5: 5: 6: 5), *work 4-st buttonhole (see instructions), K9 ( 10: 11: 11: 12) 5 times, work a 4-st buttonhole, K5 ( 5: 4: 5: 5). Knit 1 row. Cast off.