Perfect peony
Add a blast of stunning colour to simple outfits with Siân Brown’s gorgeously textured pebble stitch cardi.
YOU WILL NEED
■ King Cole, Cottonsoft DK (100% cotton, 100g/210m)
■ A pair of 3 mm needles
■ A pair of 4mm needles
■ A 3 mm circular needle, 60cm long
■ 1 medium button
For yarn stockists contact
King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com
TENSION
Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 19 sts and 32 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over pebble stitch using 4mm needles
ABBREVIATIONS
For a full list see page 95 Texture is set to be one of the top fashion trends this summer, taking us all the way into autumn, so this super-cute cardi will take pride of place in your wardrobe. It also offers a great opportunity to practise pebble stitch which, combined with the incredible softness of the yarn, is a truly rewarding stitch to master. With its loose, open look and single button fastening, this handy cardi is quick to finish, too!
BACK
Cast on 88 (92: 96: 102: 106: 112: 116: 122: 126: 130) sts using 3 mm needles. Work in garter st (knit every row) until work measures 4cm.
Note Stitch count will change on Row 3 of pebble st. When counting stitches, always do so on a Row 1, 2 or 4.
Change to 4mm needles.
Row 1 K to end.
Row 2 P to end.
Row 3 K1, k2tog to last st, P1.
Row 4 P1, (K1, pick up loop before next st from front to back onto LH needle and knit it) to last st, P1.
Rows 1 to 4 form pebble st pattern.
Cont straight in pattern until work meas 30 (30: 30: 29.5: 30: 30: 30: 29: 30: 28.5)cm ending with Row 4.
START RAGLAN SHAPING
Cast off 4 (4: 4: 5: 5: 5: 6: 6: 7: 7) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. [80 (84: 88: 92: 96: 102: 104: 110: 112: 116) sts]
Next row K1, ssk, patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [2 sts dec'd] FOR SIZES 20 AND 26 ONLY Next row Patt to end.
FOR ALL OTHER SIZES
Next row P1, p2tog, pick up and K loop before next st, (K1, pick up and K loop before next st) to last 3 sts, p2tog, P1. [76 (80: 84: 88: 92: 98: -: 106: 108: -) sts]
FOR SIZES 16, 18, 22 AND 24 ONLY
Next row K1, ssk, patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1.
[- (-: -: -: 90: 96: -: 104: 106: -) sts] Next row P1, p2tog, P to last 3 sts, p2togtbl, P1.
[- (-: -: -: 88: 94: -: 102: 104: -) sts]
FOR SIZE 18 ONLY
Next row K1, ssk, patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [2 sts dec'd]
Next row P1, p2tog, pick up and K loop before next st, (K1, pick up and K loop before next st) to last 3 sts, P3.
[- (-: -: -: -: 90: -: -: -: -) sts]
FOR ALL SIZES
Next row K1, ssk, patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [74 (78: 82: 86: 86: 88: 100: 100: 102: 112) sts]
Next row Patt to end.
Keeping patt correct, cont to dec at each end of every RS row to 36 (38: 38: 40: 40: 42: 46: 46: 48: 50) sts ending with WS row. Cast off.
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 40 (42: 44: 47: 49: 52: 54: 57: 59:
61) sts using 3 mm needles. Work in garter st (knit every row) until work measures 4cm.
Change to 4mm needles.
Work in pebble st until work meas 30 (30: 30: 29.5: 30: 30: 30: 29: 30: 28.5)cm ending with Row 4**.
START RAGLAN SHAPING
Cast off 4 (4: 4: 5: 5: 5: 6: 6: 7: 7) sts, K to end.
[36 (38: 40: 42: 44: 47: 48: 51: 52: 54) sts]
Work 1 row.
Next row K1, ssk, patt to end. [35 (37: 39: 41: 43: 46: 47: 50: 51: 53) sts]
FOR SIZES 20 AND 26 ONLY Next row Patt to end.
FOR ALL OTHER SIZES
Next row P1, patt to last 3 sts, p2togtbl, P1. [34 (36: 38: 40: 42: 45: -: 49: 50: -) sts]
FOR SIZES 16, 18, 22 AND 24 ONLY
Next row K1, ssk, patt to end.
[ - (-: -: -: 41: 44: -: 48: 49: -) sts]
Next row P to last 3 sts, p2togtbl, P1. [- (-: -: -: 40: 43: -: 47: 48: -) sts]
FOR SIZE 18 ONLY
Next row K1, ssk, patt to end. [1 st dec'd] Next row P1, patt to last 3 sts, p2togtbl, P1. [- (-: -: -: -: 41: -: -: -: -) sts]
FOR ALL SIZES
Next row K1, ssk, patt to end.
[33 (35: 37: 39: 39: 40: 46: 46: 47: 52) sts]
Next row Patt to end.
Keeping patt correct, cont to dec at beg of every RS row to 27 (28: 28: 29: 29: 32: 35: 35: 37: 38) sts, ending with RS row.
SHAPE NECK
Next row Cast off 6 (7: 7: 8: 8: 8: 9: 9: 9: 10) sts, patt to end. [21 (21: 21: 21: 21: 24: 26: 26: 28: 28) sts]
Next row K1, ssk, patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1.
[19 (19: 19: 19: 19: 22: 24: 24: 26: 26) sts]
Next row Patt to end.
Cont to dec at the neck and raglan on the next 0 (0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 2: 2) RS rows. [19 (19: 19: 19: 19: 22: 22: 22: 22: 22) sts]
Cont to dec at the raglan edge of next 12 (12: 12: 12: 12: 14: 14: 14: 14: 14) RS rows, AT THE SAME TIME decreasing at the neck edge of every 4th row 5 (5: 5: 5: 5: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6) times.
[2 (2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2) sts]
Cast off.
RIGHT FRONT
Work as left front to **.
Next row K to end.
SHAPE RAGLAN
Next row Cast off 4 (4: 4: 5: 5: 5: 6: 6: 7:
7) sts, P to end.
[36 (38: 40: 42: 44: 47: 48: 51: 52: 54) sts] Next row Patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [35 (37: 39: 41: 43: 46: 47: 50: 51: 53) sts]
FOR SIZES 20 AND 26 ONLY Next row Patt to end.
FOR ALL OTHER SIZES Next row P1, p2tog, patt to end P3. [34 (36: 38: 40: 42: 45: -: 49: 50: -) sts]
FOR SIZES 16, 18, 22 AND 24 ONLY
Next row Patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [ - (-: -: -: 41: 44: -: 48: 49: -) sts]
Next row P1, p2tog, P to end.
[- (-: -: -: 40: 43: -: 47: 48: -) sts]
FOR SIZE 18 ONLY
Next row Patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [ - (-: -: -: -: 42: -: -: -: -) sts]
Next row P1, p2tog, patt to end.
[ - (-: -: -: -: 41: -: -: -: -) sts] FOR ALL SIZES
Next row Patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [33 (35: 37: 39: 39: 42: 46: 46: 47: 52) sts] Next row Patt to end.
Keeping patt correct, cont to dec at end of every RS row to 28 (29: 29: 30: 30: 33: 36: 36: 38: 39) sts, ending with WS row.
SHAPE NECK
Next row Cast off 6 (7: 7: 8: 8: 8: 9: 9: 9: 10) sts, patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [21 (21: 21: 21: 21: 24: 26: 26: 28: 28) sts] Next row Patt to end.
Next row K1, ssk, patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1.
[19 (19: 19: 19: 19: 22: 24: 24: 26: 26) sts]
Next row Patt to end.
Cont to dec at the neck and raglan on the next 0 (0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 2: 2) RS rows. [19 (19: 19: 19: 19: 22: 22: 22: 22: 22) sts]
Cont to dec at the raglan edge of next 12 (12: 12: 12: 12: 14: 14: 14: 14: 14) RS rows, AT THE SAME TIME decreasing at the neck edge of every 4th row 5 (5: 5: 5: 5: 6: 6: 6: 6: 6) times.
[2 (2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2) sts] Work 1 WS row. Cast off.
SLEEVES (BOTH ALIKE) Cast on 56 (56: 58: 60: 62: 64: 66: 70: 72: 80) sts using 3 mm needles.
Work in garter st (K every row) until work meas 4cm.
Change to 4mm needles. Work Rows 1 to 4 of pebble st 1 (1: 1: 1: 1: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2) times.
START RAGLAN SHAPING
Cast off 4 (4: 4: 5: 5: 5: 6: 6: 7: 7) sts at the beginning of the next two rows. [48 (48: 50: 50: 52: 54: 54: 58: 58: 66) sts] Next row K1, ssk, patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1.
[46 (46: 48: 48: 50: 52: 52: 56: 56: 64) sts]
Next row Patt to end.
Keeping patt correct, cont to dec at each end of every RS row to 34 (36: 38: 40: 44: 44: 48: 46: 50: 48) sts and then on every 4th row to 20 (20: 20: 20: 22: 22: 22: 22: 24: 24) sts, ending with WS row.
Cast off.
FRONT BANDS
With RS facing and using 3 mm needles, pick up and knit 94 (96: 96: 96: 98: 98: 98: 98: 100: 98) sts down left-front edge. Work 14 rows in garter st.
Cast off.
Rep for right front.
NECK BAND
Steam pieces to shape and join raglan.
With RS facing and a 3 mm circular needle (60cm long), pick up and knit 12 sts across right-front band, 6 (7: 7: 8: 8: 8: 9: 9: 9: 10) sts across front cast-off, 22 (24: 24: 24: 26: 26: 26: 26: 28: 28) sts up right-front side, 18 (18: 18: 18: 20: 20: 20: 20: 22: 22) sts across shoulder, 34 (36: 36: 38: 38: 40: 44: 44: 46: 48) sts across back, 18 (18: 18: 18: 20: 20: 20: 20: 22: 22) sts across shoulder, 22 (24: 24: 24: 26: 26: 26: 26: 28: 28) sts down left-front side, 6 (7: 7: 8: 8: 8: 9: 9: 9: 10) sts across front cast-off and 12 sts across left-front band. [150 (158: 158: 162: 170: 172: 178: 178: 188: 192) sts]
Work 4 rows in garter st.
Next row K to last 9 sts, cast off 2 sts,
K to end.
Next row K to end, casting 2 sts on over cast-off sts.
Work 4 more rows in garter st. Cast off.
MAKING UP
Weave in ends and gently block to measurements, following any yarn care information on the ball band. Join side and sleeve seams. Attach button.