Aqua tie-waist cardigan
Relax into the week with this chic-but-slouchy cardigan complete with delightful, soft detail and a waist-cinching tie. By Sarah Hatton
AQUA CARDIGAN
Note When casting on, use the longtail or thumb method throughout (see how to do the thumb method on page 92).
BACK
Cast on 75 (81: 89: 95: 103) sts using 5.5mm straight needles. Knit 6 rows.
Change to 6.5mm needles.
Note Read ahead – armhole shaping in some sizes begins before first 88-row pattern repeat is complete.
Row 1 (RS) K4 (3: 3: 2: 2), *Sl3 wyif, K1; rep from * to last 3 (2: 2: 1: 1) sts, K3 (2: 2: 1: 1).
Rows 2, 4, 6 and 8 Purl.
Row 3 K4 (3: 3: 2: 2), *K1, take RH needle under strand at front of work and K1, K2; rep from * to last 3 (2: 2: 1: 1) sts, K3 (2: 2: 1: 1). Row 5 K2 (1: 1: 4: 4), *wyif sl 3, K1; rep from * to last 1 (0: 0: 3: 3) sts, K1 (0: 0: 3: 3).
Row 7 K2 (1: 1: 4: 4), *K1, take RH needle under strand at front of work and K1, K2; rep from * to last 1 (0: 0: 3: 3) sts, K1 (0: 0: 3: 3). Rep Rows 1 to 8 twice more, then Rows 1 to 7 once more.
Row 32 Knit.
Row 33 Purl.
Row 34 Purl.
Row 35 K4 (1: 5: 2: 6), *(K1, yo, K1) into next st, (slip these 3 sts back to LH needle and K3) twice, slip last 2 sts back to LH needle and k2tog, pass 3rd stitch over this st, K5; rep from * to last 5 (2: 6: 3: 7) sts, (K1, yo, K1) into next st, (slip these 3 sts back to LH needle and K3) twice, slip last 2 sts back to LH needle and k2tog, pass 3rd stitch over this st, K4 (1: 5: 2: 6).
Rows 36 to 38 As Rows 32 to 34.
Row 39 K2 (5: 3: 3: 4), *Sl5 wyif, K1; rep from * to last 1 (4: 2: 2: 3) sts, K1 (4: 2: 2: 3).
Row 40 Purl.
Row 41 K2 (5: 3: 3: 4), *K2, take RH needle under strand at front of work and K1, K3; rep from * to last 1 (4: 2: 2: 3) sts, K1 (4: 2: 2: 3). Rows 42 to 48 As Rows 32 to 38.
Rows 49 and 51 Knit.
Row 50 P1 (4: 4: 3: 3), *K1, P3; rep from * to last 2 (5: 5: 4: 4) sts, K1, P1 (4: 4: 3: 3).
Row 52 P3 (2: 2: 1: 1), *K1, P3; rep from * to last 4 (3: 3: 2: 2) sts, K1, P3 (2: 2: 1: 1).
Rep Rows 49 to 52 another 4 times.
Row 69 Knit.
Rows 70 to 88 As Rows 32 to 50.
These 88 rows set pattern and are repeated throughout and AT SAME TIME, work shaping as foll:
Cont until work meas 39 (40: 41: 42: 43)cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
Work 12 rows more.
SHAPE ARMHOLES
Cast off 5 (6: 7: 8: 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
[65 (69: 75: 79: 85) sts]
Dec 1 st at each end of next 3 (3: 3: 5: 5) rows, then on 2 foll RS rows. [55 (59: 65: 65: 71) sts]
Cont without shaping until armhole meas 20 (21: 22: 23: 24)cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Cast off 6 (7: 8: 9: 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows. Cast off 7 (8: 9: 9: 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows. Cast off rem 29 (29: 31: 29: 31) sts.
Cast on 36 (39: 43: 46: 50) sts using 5.5mm needles. Knit 6 rows.
Change to 6.5mm needles.
Note Read ahead – front neck and armhole shaping in some sizes begins before first 88-row pattern repeat is complete.
Row 1 (RS) K4 (3: 3: 2: 2), *Sl3 wyif, K1; rep from * to end.
Rows 2, 4, 6 and 8 Purl.
Row 3 K4 (3: 3: 2: 2), *K1, take RH needle under strand at front of work and K1, K2; rep from * to end.
Row 5 K2 (1: 1: 4: 4), *wyif sl 3, K1; rep from * to last st, K2.
Row 7 K2 (1: 1: 4: 4), *K1, take RH needle under strand at front of work and K1, K2; rep from * to last st, K2.
Rep Rows 1 to 8 twice more, then Rows 1 to 7 once more.
Row 32 Knit.
Row 33 Purl.
Row 34 Purl.
Row 35 K4 (1: 5: 2: 6), *(K1, yo, K1) into next st, (slip these 3 sts back to LH needle and K3) twice, slip last 2 sts back to LH needle
and k2tog, pass 3rd stitch over this st, K5; rep from * to last 2 sts, (K1, yo, K1) into next st, (slip these 3 sts back to LH needle and K3) twice, slip last 2 sts back to LH needle and k2tog, pass 3rd stitch over this st, K1.
Rows 36 to 38 As Rows 32 to 34.
Row 39 K5 (2: 6: 3: 1), *Sl5 wyif, K1; rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 40 Purl.
Row 41 K5 (2: 6: 3: 1), *K2, take RH needle under strand at front of work and K1, K3; rep from * to last st, K1.
Rows 42 to 48 As Rows 32 to 38.
Rows 49 and 51 Knit.
Row 50 P1 (4: 4: 3: 3), *K1, P3; rep from * to last 3 sts, K1, P2.
Row 52 P3 (2: 2: 1: 1), *K1, P3; rep from * to last st, P1.
Rep Rows 49 to 52 another 4 times.
Row 69 Knit.
Rows 70 to 88 As Rows 32 to 50.
These 88 rows set pattern and are repeated throughout and AT SAME TIME, work shaping as foll:
Cont until work meas 39 (40: 41: 42: 43)cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE FRONT NECK
Dec 1 st at neck edge of next and 2 foll RS rows, then on foll 4th row. Work 3 rows, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE ARMHOLE
Next row Cast off 5 (6: 7: 8: 9) sts, work to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Work 1 row.
Dec 1 st at armhole edge of next 3 (3: 3: 5: 5) rows, then on 2 foll RS rows and AT SAME TIME dec 1 st at neck edge of every foll 4th row to 13 (15: 17: 18: 20) sts.
Cont without shaping until Left Front matches Back to start of shoulder shaping, ending at shoulder edge.
SHAPE SHOULDER
Next row Cast off 6 (7: 8: 9: 10) sts, patt to end. Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 7 (8: 9: 9: 10) sts.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 36 (39: 43: 46: 50) sts using 5.5mm needles. Knit 6 rows.
Change to 6.5mm needles.
Note Read ahead – front neck and armhole shaping in some sizes begins before first 88-row pattern repeat is complete.
Row 1 (RS) *K1, Sl3 wyif; rep from * to last 4 (3: 3: 2: 2) sts, K4 (3: 3: 2: 2).
Rows 2, 4, 6 and 8 Purl.
Row 3 *K1, take RH needle under strand at front of work and K1, K2; rep from * to last 4 (3: 3: 2: 2) sts, K4 (3: 3: 2: 2).
Row 5 K2, *K1, wyif sl 3; rep from * to last 2 (1: 1: 4: 4) sts, K2 (1: 1: 4: 4).
Row 7 K2, *K2, take RH needle under strand at front of work and K1, K1; rep from * to last st, K2 (1: 1: 4: 4).
Rep Rows 1 to 8 twice more, then Rows 1 to 7 once more.
Row 32 Knit.
Row 33 Purl.
Row 34 Purl.
Row 35 K1, *(K1, yo, K1) into next st, (slip these 3 sts back to LH needle and K3) twice, slip last 2 sts back to LH needle and k2tog, pass 3rd stitch over this st, K5; rep from * to last 5 (2: 6: 3: 7) sts, (K1, yo, K1) into next st, (slip these 3 sts back to LH needle and K3) twice, slip last 2 sts back to LH needle and k2tog, pass 3rd stitch over this st, K4 (1: 5: 2: 6).
Rows 36 to 38 As Rows 32 to 34.
Row 39 K1, *K1, Sl5 wyif; rep from * to last 5 (2: 6: 3: 1) sts, K5 (2: 6: 3: 1).
Row 40 Purl.
Row 41 K1, *K3, take RH needle under strand at front of work and K1, K2; rep from * to last 5 (2: 6: 3: 1) sts, K5 (2: 6: 3: 1).
Rows 42 to 48 As Rows 32 to 38.
Rows 49 and 51 Knit.
Row 50 P2, K1, *P3, K1; rep from * to last 1 (4: 4: 3: 3) st(s), P1 (4: 4: 3: 3).
Row 52 P1, *P3, K1; rep from * to last 3 (2: 2: 1: 1) st(s), P3 (2: 2: 1: 1). Rep Rows 49 to 52 another 4 times.
Row 69 Knit.
Rows 70 to 88 As Rows 32 to 50.
These 88 rows set pattern and are repeated throughout and AT SAME TIME, cont as given for Left Front, reversing all shapings.
SLEEVES
Cast on 29 (31: 31: 33: 33) sts using 5.5mm needles. Knit 6 rows.
Change to 6.5mm needles.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 P2 (3: 3: 4: 4), *K1, P3; rep from * to last 3 (0: 0: 1: 1) st(s), K1 (0: 0: 0: 0), P2 (0: 0: 1: 1).
Row 3 Knit.
Row 4 P4 (1: 1: 2: 2), *K1, P3; rep from * to last 1 (2: 2: 3: 3) sts, k0 (1: 1: 1: 1), P1 (1: 1: 2: 2).
These 4 rows set patt.
Working inc sts into patt where possible, inc 1 st at each end of next and 4 (4: 0: 3: 6) foll 6th (6th: 0: 4th: 4th) rows, then on every foll 8th (8th: 6th: 6th: 6th) row to 49 (51: 55: 59: 61) sts.
Cont without shaping until Sleeve meas 45 (45: 46: 46: 46)cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE SLEEVE TOP
Cast off 5 (6: 7: 8: 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
[39 (39: 41: 43: 43) sts]
Work 2 rows, dec 1 st at each end of every row.
Work 6 rows, dec 1 st at each end of next and every foll RS row. Work 12 rows, dec 1 st at each end of next and every foll 4th rows. Work 4 (4: 6: 8: 8) rows, dec 1 st at each end of next and every foll RS row.
Work 2 rows, dec 1 st at each end of every row.
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Cast off rem 9 sts.
MAKING UP
Join both shoulder seams.
NECKBAND
With RS facing, using 5.5mm circular needle, pick up and knit 64 (66: 68: 70: 72) sts up front edge to start of neck shaping, 42 (44: 46: 48: 50) sts up front neck shaping, 30 (30: 32: 30: 32) sts from back neck, 42 (44: 46: 48: 50) sts down front neck shaping and 64 (66: 68: 70: 72) sts down to hem. [242 (250: 260: 266: 276) sts] Knit 2 rows.
Next row K111 (115: 120: 123: 128), (M1, K4) 5 times, M1, knit to end. [248 (256: 266: 272: 282) sts]
SHORT ROW SHAPING
Next 2 rows K137 (141: 146: 149: 154), wrap next st and turn, K26, wrap next st and turn,
Next 2 rows Knit to last RS wrap st, knit this st and next 2 sts, wrap and turn, knit to last WS wrap st, knit this st and next 2 sts, wrap and turn.
Rep these 2 rows another 4 times.
Next 2 rows Knit to last RS wrap st, knit this st and next 3 sts, wrap and turn, knit to last WS wrap st, knit this st and next 3 sts, wrap and turn.
Rep these 2 rows another 7 times.
Next partial row, knit to end.
Knit 2 rows.
Cast off knitwise on WS.
BELT
Cast on 5 sts using 5.5mm needles.
Work in garter st (knit every row) until Belt meas 140 (160: 160: 180: 180)cm from cast-on edge, or to length required.
Cast off.
MAKING UP
Join side and Sleeve seams. Sew in Sleeves, easing in fabric to fit. Block gently to measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band.