Rowan Fair Isle cardigan
A soft wool and alpaca yarn combines with stunning Fair Isle to create this easy-to-wear cardigan you'll love for years to come.
LONG FAIR ISLE CARDIGAN BACK
Cast on 175 (187: 201: 213: 225) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 (RS) K2 (2: 3: 3: 3), P3, *K3, P3, rep from * to last 2 (2: 3: 3: 3) sts, K2 (2: 3: 3: 3).
Row 2 P2 (2: 3: 3: 3), K3, *P3, K3, rep from * to last 2 (2: 3: 3: 3) sts, P2 (2: 3: 3: 3).
These 2 rows form rib.
Cont in rib for a further 14 rows, ending with RS facing for next row. Change to 4mm needles.
Using the Fair Isle technique, work Rows 1 to 26 of Chart A, beginning with st 13 (7: 13: 7: 1) and ending with st 5 (11: 5: 11: 4). Work Rows 27 to 54 of Chart B, beginning with st 2 (4: 5: 7: 1) and ending with st 8 (6: 5: 3: 1).
Work Rows 55 to 78 of Chart C, beginning with st 13 (7: 13: 7: 1) and ending with st 5 (11: 5: 11: 4).
Work Rows 79 to 106 of Chart D, beginning with st st 2 (4: 5: 7: 1) and ending with st 8 (6: 5: 3: 1).
These 106 rows set pattern.
Repeating these 106 rows throughout, cont straight in pattern as set until Back meas 80.5 (82.5: 84.5: 86.5: 88.5)cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE SHOULDERS AND BACK NECK
Next row (RS) Cast off 22 (24: 26: 28: 30) sts, patt until there are 48 (52: 56: 60: 63) sts on right needle and turn, leaving rem sts on a holder.
Work each side of neck separately.
Dec 1 st at neck edge of next 3 rows and at same time cast off 22 (24: 26: 28: 30) sts at beg of 2nd row.
Cast off rem 23 (25: 27: 29: 30) sts.
With RS facing, slip centre 35 (35: 37: 37: 39) sts onto a holder (for front band), rejoin appropriate yarns to rem sts and patt to end. Complete to match first side, reversing shapings.
POCKET LININGS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 34 sts using 4mm needles and Yarn A.
Beg with a K row, work in st st for 50 rows, ending with RS facing for next row.
Next row (RS) K6, (M1, K11) twice, M1, K6. [37 sts]
Break yarn and leave sts on a holder.
LEFT FRONT
Cast on 87 (93: 100: 106: 112) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A. Row 1 (RS) K2 (2: 3: 3: 3), *P3, K3, rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 2 K1, *P3, K3, rep from * to last 2 (2: 3: 3: 3) sts, P2 (2: 3: 3: 3).
These 2 rows form rib.
Cont in rib for a further 14 rows, ending with RS facing for next row.
Change to 4mm needles.
Using the Fair Isle technique, work Rows 1 to 26 of Chart A, beginning with st 13 (7: 13: 7: 1) and ending with st 8.
Work Rows 27 to 53 only of Chart B, beginning with st 2 (4: 5: 7: 1) and ending with st 8.
PLACE POCKET
Row 54 (WS) Patt 33 (37: 42: 46: 50) sts, slip next 37 sts onto a holder (for pocket top) and, in their place, patt across 37 sts of first pocket lining, patt rem 17 (19: 21: 23: 25) sts.
Work Rows 55 to 78 of Chart C, beginning with st 13 (7: 13: 7: 1) and ending with st 8.
Work Rows 79 to 106 of Chart D, beginning with st 2 (4: 5: 7: 1) and ending with st 8.
These 106 rows set pattern.
Cont straight in pattern until 80 (84: 88: 90: 94) rows less have been worked than on back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE FRONT SLOPE
Keeping patt correct, dec 1 st at end of next and foll 2 (0: 0: 0: 0) alt rows, then on 16 (18: 19: 18: 19) foll 4th rows, then on 1 (1: 1: 2: 2) foll 6th rows. [67 (73: 79: 85: 90) sts]
Work 5 rows, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE SHOULDER
Cast off 22 (24: 26: 28: 30) sts at beg of next and foll alt row. Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 23 (25: 27: 29: 30) sts.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 87 (93: 100: 106: 112) sts using 3.25mm needles and yarn A. Row 1 (RS) K1, *K3, P3, rep from * to last 2 (2: 3: 3: 3) sts, K2 (2: 3: 3: 3).
Row 2 P2 (2: 3: 3: 3), *K3, P3, rep from * to last st, K1.
These 2 rows form rib.
Cont in rib for a further 14 rows, ending with RS facing for next row. Change to 4mm needles.
Using the Fair Isle technique, work Rows 1 to 26 of Chart A, beginning with t 10 and ending with st 5 (11: 5: 11: 4).
Work Rows 27 to 53 only of Chart B, beginning with st 2 and ending with st 8 (6: 5: 3: 1).
PLACE POCKET
Row 54 (WS) Patt 17 (19: 21: 23: 25) sts of Chart B as set, slip next 37 sts onto a holder (for pocket top) and, in their place, patt across 37 sts of second pocket lining, patt rem 33 (37: 42: 46: 50) sts.
Work Rows 55 to 78 of Chart C, beginning with st 10 and ending with st 5 (11: 5: 11: 4).
Work Rows 79 to 106 of Chart D, beginning with st 2 and ending with st 8 (6: 5: 3: 1).
These 106 rows set pattern.
Cont straight until 80 (84: 88: 90: 94) rows less have been worked than on back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE FRONT SLOPE
Keeping patt correct, dec 1 st at beg of next and foll 2 (0: 0: 0: 0) alt rows, then on 16 (18: 19: 18: 19) foll 4th rows, then on 1 (1: 1: 2: 2) foll 6th rows. 67 (73: 79: 85: 90) sts.
Complete to match left front, reversing shapings.
SLEEVES
Cast on 47 (49: 51: 51: 53) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A .
Row 1 (RS) K0 (0: 0: 0: 1), P1 (2: 3: 3: 3), *K3, P3, rep from * to last 4
(5: 0: 0: 1) sts, K3 (3: 0: 0: 1), P1 (2: 0: 0: 0).
Row 2 P0 (0: 0: 0: 1), K1 (2: 3: 3: 3), *P3, K3, rep from * to last 4 (5:
0: 0: 1) sts, P3 (3: 0: 0: 1), K1 (2: 0: 0: 0).
These 2 rows form rib.
Cont in rib for a further 13 rows, ending with WS facing for next row. Row 16 (WS) Rib 4 (5: 6: 6: 7), M1, (rib 3, M1) 13 times, rib 4 (5: 6: 6: 7). [61 (63: 65: 65: 67) sts]
Change to 4mm needles.
Note You will now work increases at beg and end of row. Place a marker 1 st in from each end of row after making your first increases and keep central 61 (63: 65: 65: 67) sts between these markers, as this will help you when keeping patt correct as you make further incs.
Beg first row of Sleeve Chart with st 4 (3: 2: 2: 1) and end with st 64 (65: 66: 66: 67), and taking new sts into pattern, inc 1 st at each end of 3rd and 0 (6: 9: 17: 23) foll alt rows, then on every foll 4th row until there are 105 (113: 119: 127: 135) sts, taking inc sts into patt.
When increases are complete cont straight until Sleeve meas 42 (42: 43: 43: 43)cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE TOP
Cast off.
MAKING UP
Block pieces gently following any instructions on the ball band. Join both shoulder seams using backstitch, or mattress stitch if preferred.
FRONT BAND
With RS facing, using 3.25mm circular needle and Yarn A, beg and ending at front cast-on edges, pick up and knit 121 (122: 123: 124: 125) sts evenly up right front opening edge to beg of front slope shaping, 83 (88: 92: 94: 98) sts up right front slope, and 3 sts down right side of back neck, K across 35 (35: 37: 37: 39) sts on back holder, pick up and knit 3 sts up left side of back neck, 83 (88: 92: 94: 98) sts down left front slope to beg of front slope shaping, and 121 (122: 123: 124: 125) sts evenly down left front opening edge. [449 (461: 473: 479: 491) sts]
Row 1 (WS) K1, P3, *K3, P3, rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 2 K4, *P3, K3, rep from * to last st, K1.
These 2 rows form rib.
Work in rib for 1 more row, ending with RS facing for next row.
Row 4 (RS) Rib 43 (42: 43: 42: 43), *cast off 2 sts (to make a buttonhole – cast on 2 sts over these cast-off sts on next row), rib until there are 35 (36: 36: 37: 37) sts on right needle after cast-off, rep from * once more, cast off 2 sts (to make 3rd buttonhole – cast on 2 sts over these cast-off sts on next row), rib to end.
Work in rib for a further 5 rows, ending with RS facing for next row. Cast off in rib.
POCKET TOPS (BOTH ALIKE)
Slip 37 sts left on pocket top holder onto 3.25mm needles and rejoin Yarn A with RS facing.
Row 1 (RS) K5, M1, (K9, M1) 3 times, K5. [41 sts]
Beg with Row 1, work in rib as given for front band for 7 rows, ending with RS facing for next row.
Cast off in rib.
FINISHING
Mark points along side seam edges 22 (23.5: 25: 26.5: 28)cm either side of shoulder seams (to denote base of armhole openings). Place centre of cast-off edge of Sleeve to shoulder seam. Sew top of Sleeve to Body, using markers as a guide. Join side and Sleeve seams. Slip st pocket linings and edgings into place. Sew on buttons to correspond with buttonholes.