Block and stripe cardigan
Pretty pink shades combine to make an adorable, very wearable cardigan you’ll never take o this spring and summer.
IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS
YOU WILL NEED
Rico Essentials Merino DK (100% wool, 50g/120m)
For measurements and quantities see size table
A pair of 3.25mm needles A pair of 4mm needles A stitch holder
7 buttons
TENSION
22 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 4mm needles
STRIPY CARDIGAN
BACK
Cast on 103 (115: 127: 139: 151: 163) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 (RS) K2, *P1, K1; rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 2 P2, *K1, P1; rep from * to last st, P1.
The last 2 rows form rib.
Rep these 2 rib rows twice more, then Row 1 again. Next row Purl.**
Change to 4mm needles.
Cont in st st throughout starting with a knit row until Back measures 41cm, ending with a WS row.
SHAPE ARMHOLES
Cast off 5 (7: 8: 9: 11: 12) sts loosely at beg of next 2 rows.
[93 (101: 111: 121: 129: 139) sts]
Dec 1 st at each end of every row until 79 (87: 93: 103: 107: 113) sts rem, then on every RS row until 73 (79: 85: 91: 97: 103) sts rem.
Cont straight until Back measures 58 (59: 60: 61: 62: 64)cm, ending with a WS row.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Cast off 6 (7: 7: 8: 9: 9) sts loosely at beg of next 4 rows, then 6 (6: 8: 8: 8: 10) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [37 (39: 41: 43: 45: 47) sts] Slip rem sts onto a stitch holder.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 49 (55: 61: 67: 73: 79) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn
B.
Work 7 rows in rib as for Back. Next row P1, M1P, P to end. [50 (56: 62: 68: 74: 80) sts]
Change to 4mm needles.
Cont in st st starting with a knit row until front measures 41cm, ending after a RS row.
SHAPE ARMHOLE
***Cast off 5 (7: 8: 9: 11: 12) sts loosely at beg of next row.
[45 (49: 54: 59: 63: 68) sts]
Dec 1 st at armhole edge on every row until 38 (42: 45: 50: 52: 55) sts rem, then on every RS row until 35 (38: 41: 44: 47: 50) sts rem.
Cont straight until 20 (22: 22: 24: 26: 28) rows fewer have been worked than on Back to start of shoulder shaping, ending at the centre front edge.
SHAPE NECK
Cast off 12 (13: 14: 15: 16: 17) sts loosely at beg of next row. [23 (25: 27: 29: 31: 33) sts]
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 5 rows. [18 (20: 22: 24: 26: 28) sts]
Work 15 (17: 17: 19: 21: 23) rows straight, ending at the armhole edge.
SHAPE SHOULDER
Cast off 6 (7: 7: 8: 9: 9) sts at beg of next and foll alt row. [6 (6: 8: 8: 8: 10) sts]
Work 1 row straight.
Cast off rem sts.
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 49 (55: 61: 67: 73: 79) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn B.
Work 7 rows in rib as for Back.
Next row P to last st, M1P, P1. [50 (56: 62: 68: 74: 80) sts]
Change to 4mm needles.
Cont in st st starting with a knit row and joining in and breaking off colours as required, work the foll stripe sequence:
(2 rows in Yarn C, 2 rows in Yarn A) twice, 2 rows in Yarn C, 10 rows in Yarn A, (2 rows in Yarn C, 2 rows in Yarn B) twice, 2 rows in Yarn C, 10 rows in Yarn B.
These 40 rows form stripe sequence.
Cont in stripe sequence throughout until Front measures 41cm, ending after a WS row.
Complete from *** to end as for Right Front, noting that 1 row fewer than stated will be worked before shaping shoulder.
RIGHT SLEEVE
Cast on 43 (45: 47: 47: 49: 51) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn B. Work as for Back to **.
Change to 4mm needles.
Cont in st st starting with a knit row, working stripe sequence as given for Left Front AT THE SAME TIME shape Sleeve by inc 1 st at each end of 3rd row, then on every foll 8th (8th: 6th: 6th: 4th: 4th) row until there are 51 (53: 65: 77: 57: 69) sts, then on every foll 10th (8th: 8th: 8th: 6th: 6th) row until there are 67 (73: 79: 83: 89: 95) sts.
Cont straight until Sleeve measures 43 (44: 44: 45: 45: 46)cm, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE TOP
Cast off 5 (7: 8: 9: 11: 12) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [57 (59: 63: 65: 67: 71) sts]
Work 0 (2: 4: 6: 8: 8) rows straight.
Dec 1 st at each end of next row and every foll RS row until 31 (33: 37: 39: 41: 45) sts rem, then on every row until 21 (23: 27: 29: 31: 35) sts rem.
Cast off very loosely.
LEFT SLEEVE
Work as for Right Sleeve, using Yarn B only throughout.
MAKING UP
NECKBAND
Join shoulders. Using 3.25mm needles and Yarn B, with RS facing,
pick up and K32 (34: 35: 38: 40: 43) sts evenly round right front neck, K across 37 (39: 41: 43: 45: 47) sts of Back, pick up and K32 (34: 35: 38: 40: 43) sts evenly round left front neck.
[101 (107: 111: 119: 125: 133) sts]
Beg with Row 2, work 6 rows in rib as for Back.
Cast off evenly in rib.
RIGHT BORDER
Using 3.25mm needles and Yarn B, with RS facing, pick up and K 145 (147: 149: 131: 133: 133) sts evenly along right front edge. Beg with Row 2 work 2 rows in rib as on Back.
Next row (WS) Rib 3, (cast off 2 sts, rib 16 – including st on right needle after cast off) 6 times, cast off 2 sts, rib to end.
Next row Work in rib as set, casting on 2 sts neatly over those cast off.
Work in rib for 2 more rows.
Cast off evenly in rib.
LEFT BORDER
Commencing at neck edge and omitting buttonholes, work as for right border.
FINISHING
Weave in ends and block gently to measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band. Sew in Sleeve tops. Join side and Sleeve seams. Sew on buttons.