Spring flower cardigan
A touch of extra detail can be the making of your garments – this simple cardigan by Siân Brown is decorated with sweet embroidery stitches
EMBROIDERED CARDIGAN BACK
Cast on 94 (102: 106: 114: 118: 126) sts using 3.75mm needles. Rib row 1 (RS) K2, (P2, K2) to end.
Rib row 2 P2, (K2, P2) to end.
Rep the last 2 rows 4 times more, inc 3 (1: 3: 1: 3: 1) sts evenly across last row. [97 (103: 109: 115: 121: 127) sts]
Change to 4mm needles.
Beg with a RS row, work 6 rows in st st, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE WAIST
Dec row (RS) K7, skpo, knit to last 9 sts, k2tog, K7. [2 sts dec’d] Work 7 rows straight.
Rep the last 8 rows another 4 times and the dec row again. [85 (91: 97: 103: 109: 115) sts]
Work 15 (15: 17: 17: 19: 19) rows straight, ending after a WS row.
Inc row (RS) K7, M1, knit to last 7 sts, M1, K7. [2 sts inc’d] Work 5 rows straight.
Rep the last 6 rows 4 times more and the inc row again. [97 (103: 109: 115: 121: 127) sts]
Cont straight until Back measures 39 (40: 40: 40: 41: 42)cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE RAGLAN ARMHOLES
Cast off 4 (5: 6: 7: 8: 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
[89 (93: 97: 101: 105: 109) sts]
Next row (RS) K2, skpo, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, K2. [2 sts dec’d] Next row Purl to end.
Rep the last 2 rows another 25 (26: 27: 28: 29: 30) times.
[37 (39: 41: 43: 45: 47) sts]
NECKBAND
Row 1 (RS) Knit to end, increasing 1 st at centre of row.
[38 (40: 42: 44: 46: 48) sts]
Row 2 P0 (1: 0: 1: 0: 1), K2, (P2, K2) to last 0 (1: 0: 1: 0: 1) sts, P0 (1: 0: 1: 0: 1).
Row 3 K0 (1: 0: 1: 0: 1), P2, (K2, P2) to last 0 (1: 0: 1: 0: 1) sts, K0 (1: 0: 1: 0: 1).
Rep Rows 2 and 3 twice more and Row 2 again.
Cast off in rib.
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 47 (51: 51: 55: 59: 63) sts with 3.75mm needles. Rib row 1 (RS) *K2, P2; rep from * to last 3 sts, K3.
Rib row 2 P3, *K2, P2; rep from * to end.
Rep the last 2 rows another 4 times, inc 1 (0: 3: 2: 1: 0) sts evenly across last row. [48 (51: 54: 57: 60: 63) sts]
Change to 4mm needles.
Beg with a RS (knit) row, work 6 rows in st st, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE WAIST
Dec row (RS) K7, skpo, knit to end. [1 st dec’d]
Work 7 rows straight.
Rep the last 8 rows another 4 times and the dec row again. [42 (45: 48: 51: 54: 57) sts]
Work 15 (15: 17: 17: 19: 19) rows straight.
Inc row (RS) K7, M1, knit to end. [1 st inc’d]
Work 5 rows straight.
Rep the last 6 rows another 4 times and the inc row again. [48 (51: 54: 57: 60: 63) sts]
Cont straight until Front measures 39 (40: 40: 40: 41: 42)cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE RAGLAN ARMHOLE AND NECK EDGE
Next row (RS) Cast off 4 (5: 6: 7: 8: 9) sts, knit to end.
[44 (46: 48: 50: 52: 54) sts]
Next row Purl.
Next row K2, skpo, knit to last 2 sts, skpo. [2 sts dec’d]
Next row Purl.
Rep the last 2 rows another 14 (15: 16: 17: 18: 19) times. [14 sts]
SHAPE RAGLAN ARMHOLE ONLY
Next row (RS) K2, skpo, knit to end. [1 st dec’d] Next row Purl to end.
Rep the last 2 rows another 10 times. [3 sts] Leave these sts on a holder.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 47 (51: 51: 55: 59: 63) sts with 3.75mm needles. Rib row 1 (RS) K3, *P2, K2; rep from * to end.
Rib row 2 *P2, K2; rep from * to last 3 sts, P3.
Rep the last 2 rows another 4 times, inc 1 (0: 3: 2: 1: 0) sts evenly across last row. [48 (51: 54: 57: 60: 63) sts]
Change to 4mm needles.
Beg with a RS row, work 6 rows in st st, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE WAIST
Dec row (RS) Knit to last 9 sts, k2tog, K7. [1 st dec’d] Work 7 rows straight.
Rep the last 8 rows another 4 times and the dec row again. [42 (45: 48: 51: 54: 57) sts]
Work 15 (15: 17: 17: 19: 19) rows straight.
Inc row (RS) Knit to last 7 sts, M1, K7. [1 st inc’d] Work 5 rows straight.
Rep the last 6 rows another 4 times and the inc row again. [48 (51: 54: 57: 60: 63) sts]
Cont straight until Front measures 39 (40: 40: 40: 41: 42)cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
Work 1 row straight.
SHAPE RAGLAN ARMHOLE AND NECK EDGE
Next row (WS) Cast off 4 (5: 6: 7: 8: 9) sts, purl to end.
[44 (46: 48: 50: 52: 54) sts]
Next row K2tog, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, K2. [2 sts dec’d] Next row Purl.
Rep the last 2 rows another 14 (15: 16: 17: 18: 19) times. [14 sts]
SHAPE RAGLAN ARMHOLE ONLY
Next row (RS) Knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, K2. [1 st dec’d] Next row Purl.
Rep the last 2 rows another 10 times. [3 sts] Leave these sts on a holder.
SLEEVES (MAKE 2)
Cast on 46 (50: 54: 58: 62: 66) sts with 3.75mm needles.
Rib row 1 K2, (P2, K2) to end.
Rib row 2 P2, (K2, P2) to end.
Rep the last 2 rows another 4 times, inc 1 st at centre of last row. [47 (51: 55: 59: 63: 67) sts]
Change to 4mm needles.
Beg with a RS row, work 2 rows in st st, ending after a WS row.
Inc row K3, M1, patt to 3 sts, M1, K3. [2 sts inc’d] Work 9 rows straight.
Rep the last 10 rows another 9 times and the inc row again. [69 (73: 77: 81: 85: 89) sts]
Cont straight until Sleeve measures 46cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE SLEEVE TOP
Cast off 4 (5: 6: 7: 8: 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
[61 (63: 65: 67: 69: 71) sts]
Next row K2, skpo, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, K2. [2 sts dec’d] Next row Purl to end.
Rep the last 2 rows another 17 (18: 19: 20: 21: 22) times. [25 sts]
Next row K2, skpo, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, K2. [2 sts dec’d] Work 3 rows straight.
Rep the last 4 rows another 3 times. [17 sts]
Leave these sts on a holder.
BUTTON BANDS LEFT FRONT BAND
With RS facing, using 3.75mm needles, from Sleeve, K15, skpo, from Left Front sts on holder, k2tog, K1, then pick up and K46 (48: 50: 52: 54: 56) sts down left front edge to end of neck shaping, then pick up and knit 91 (92: 91: 92: 91: 92) sts to cast-on edge. [155 (158: 159: 162: 163: 166) sts]
Row 1 P1, *K2, P2; rep from * to last 2 (1: 2: 1: 2: 1) sts, K2 (1: 2: 1: 2: 1).
Row 2 P2 (1: 2: 1: 2: 1), *K2, P2; rep from * to last st, P1.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 twice more and Row 1 again.
Cast off in rib.
RIGHT FRONT BAND
With RS facing, using 3.75mm needles, pick up and knit 91 (92: 91: 92: 91: 92) sts up right front edge to beg of neck shaping then pick up and knit 46 (48: 50: 52: 54: 56) sts along right front neck, from Right Front sts on holder, K1, skpo, then from Sleeve, k2tog, K15. [155 (158: 159: 162: 163: 166) sts]
Row 1 K2 (1: 2: 1: 2: 1), *P2, K2; rep from * to last st, P1.
Row 2 P1, *P2, K2; rep from * to last 2 (1: 2: 1: 2: 1) sts, P2 (1: 2: 1: 2: 1).
These 2 rows form the rib.
Work 1 row.
Buttonhole row Rib 3, (k2tog, yrn, rib 14) five times, k2tog, yrn, rib to end.
Rib 3 rows.
Cast off in rib.
MAKING UP
Block gently to measurements, following any instructions on the ball band.
Embroider the pieces, following the diagrams for the embroidery and using image as a guide for placement.
Join raglan and neckband seams. Join side and Sleeve seams. Sew on buttons.