Knitting: A cardigan in a delicate ladder stitch

Our pretty cardigan features a delicate ladder stitch design in a shaded cotton yarn for extra comfort.

MEASUREMENTS

To fit sizes: 81/86 cm (32/34 ins), 91/97 (36/38), 102/107 (40/42), 112/117 (44/46), 122/127 (48/50), 132/137 (52/54), 142/147 (56/58).

Actual size: 96 cm (37¾ ins), 104 (41), 116 (45¾), 125 (49¼), 136 (53¾), 145 (57¼), 156 (61¾). Length: 56 cm (22 ins), 57 (22½), 58 (23), 59 (23¼), 60 (23¾), 61 (24), 62 (24¾). Sleeve seam: 43 cm (17 ins), 43 (17), 43 (17), 43 (17), 44 (17½), 44 (17½), 44 (17½).

MATERIALS

6 (6,7,7, 8,8, 9) 50-gram balls of Sirdar Toscana DK (shade 110). One pair each 3.25 mm (No. 10) and 4 mm (No. 8) knitting needles; stitch-holders. For yarn stockists telephone 01924 371501 or visit www.sirdar.co.uk.

TENSION

22 sts and 28 rows to 10 cm measured over st-st using 4 mm needles.

ABBREVIATIONS

Alt – alternate; beg – beginning; dec – decrease; inc – increase;

K– knit; ML – make ladder by dropping next st off left needle and run down to the yf to make a ladder; P– purl; rep – repeat; SKPO – slip 1, K1, pass slipped st over; st(s) – stitch(es); st-st – stocking stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row); tog – together; tw2 – slip next st, K1, pass slipped st over st just knitted and knit into back of it; yf – yarn forward.

Important Note

Directions are given for seven sizes. Figures in brackets refer to the six larger sizes. Figures in square brackets [ ] refer to all sizes and are worked the number of times stated. When writing to us with your queries, you must enclose an SAE if you would like a reply.

PANEL (26 sts) 1st - 4th row – Beg with a knit row, work 4 rows in st-st. 5th row – P1, tw2, yf, tw2, P1, [K4, P1, tw2, yf, tw2, P1] twice – 29 sts.

6th row – K1, P5, K1, [P4, K1, P5, K1] twice.

7th row – P1, tw2, K1, tw2, P1, [K4, P1, tw2, K1, tw2, P1] twice.

8th to 13th rows – Rep 6th and 7th rows 3 times.

14th row – K1, P2, ML, P2, K1, [P4, K1, P2, ML, P2, K1] twice – 26 sts.

15th to 18th rows – As 1st to 4th rows.

19th row – K5, [P1, tw2, yf, tw2, P1, K4] twice, K1 –

28 sts.

20th row – P5, [K1, P5, K1, P4] twice, P1.

21st row – K5, [P1, tw2, K1, tw2, P1, K4] twice, K1.

22nd to 27th rows – Rep 20th and 21st rows 3 times. 28th row – P5, [K1, P2, ML, P2, K1, P4] twice, P1.

These 28 rows form panel.

RIGHT FRONT

With 3.25 mm needles, cast on 51 (57, 63, 69, 73, 79, 85) sts.

1st row (right side) – K2, [P1, K1] to last st, K1.

2nd row – K1, [P1, K1] to end.

Rep the last 2 rows twice more, then 1st row again. Next row – Purl, dec 1 st on 3rd, 4th and 7th sizes only – 51 (57, 62, 68, 73, 79, 84) sts ★★ .

Change to 4 mm needles and pattern.

1st row (right side) – K11 (12, 12, 13, 13, 14, 14), work 1st row of panel, K14 (19, 24, 29, 34, 39, 44).

2nd row – P14 (19, 24, 29, 34, 39, 44), work 2nd row of panel, P11 (12, 12, 13, 13, 14, 14).

3rd to 28th rows – As 1st and 2nd rows but working 3rd to 28th rows of panel. These 28 rows set the pattern. Rep these 28 rows once more then 1st to 24th rows again. Shape front slope – Note: when counting sts, the panel sts must always be counted as 26.

Dec 1 st at front edge on next row and the 4 foll 4th rows – 46 (52, 57, 63, 68, 74, 79) sts.

Work 2 rows straight. (Work 1 row only here on left front.) Mark centre of last row. Shape armhole – Cast off 6 (7,8, 9, 11, 12, 13) sts loosely, work to end – 40 (45, 49, 54, 57, 62, 66) sts. (On left front only now work 1 row straight.)

Dec 1 st at armhole edge on next 5 (5,7, 7,9, 9, 11) rows at the same time dec 1 st on every 4th row from previous front dec – 33 (38, 40, 45, 45, 50, 52) sts.

Dec 1 st at armhole edge on next 3 (4,4, 5, 4,5, 5) right-side rows, at the same time dec 1 st as before on every 4th row from previous front decrease. Armhole shaping is now complete.

Noting that when a total of 4½ repeats of panel in all have been worked (i.e. 126 rows), all remaining rows should be worked in st-st. Continue shaping at front edge only on every 6th (4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th) row from previous dec until 27 (30, 32, 34, 34, 36, 39) sts remain, then on every foll 6th (6th, 6th, 4th, 6th, 6th, 6th) row until 24 (26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36) sts remain. Work straight until armhole measures 17 (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23) cm from marker, ending at armhole edge. Shape shoulder – Cast off 6 (6,7, 7,8, 8, 9) sts loosely at beg of next row and the 2 foll alt rows –6 (8, 7, 9, 8, 10, 9) sts.

Work 1 row. Cast off.

LEFT FRONT

Work as right front to ★★ . Change to 4 mm needles and pattern.

1st row – K14 (19, 24, 29, 34, 39, 44), work 1st row of panel, K11 (12, 12, 13, 13, 14, 14).

2nd row – P11 (12, 12, 13, 13, 14, 14), work 2nd row of panel, P14 (19, 24, 29, 34, 39, 44).

3rd to 28th rows – As 1st and 2nd but working 3rd to 28th rows of panel.

Rep these 28 rows once, then 1st to 24th rows again. Shape front slope and complete as given for right front noting bracketed exceptions.

BACK

With 3.25 mm needles, cast on 105 (115, 127, 137, 149, 159, 171) sts and work 7 rows in rib as on right front. Next row – Purl, dec 1 st on all sizes – 104 (114, 126, 136, 148, 158, 170) sts. Change to 4 mm needles and beg with knit row, work

98 rows in st-st.

Shape armholes – Cast off 6 (7,8,9, 11, 12, 13) sts loosely at beg of next 2 rows – 92 (100, 110, 118, 126, 134, 144) sts.

Dec 1 st at each end of 5 (5, 7,7, 9,9, 11) rows, then on every following alt row until 76 (82, 88, 94, 100, 106, 112) sts remain.

Work straight until back measures same as fronts to shoulder shaping, ending after a purl row.

Shape shoulders – Cast off 6 (6,7, 7,8, 8, 9) sts loosely at beg of next 6 rows, then 6 (8,7, 9, 8, 10, 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows – 28 (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40) sts.

Slip remaining sts on a stitch-holder and leave.

SLEEVES

With 3.25 mm needles, cast on 43 (45, 47, 49, 49, 51, 53) sts and work 7 rows in rib as on right front.

Purl 1 row, inc 1 st at end of last row – 44 (46, 48, 50, 50, 52, 54) sts.

Change to 4 mm needles and pattern.

1st row (right side) – K20 (21, 22, 23, 23, 24, 25), tw2, yf, tw2, K20 (21, 22, 23, 23, 24, 25).

Note: The yf will form the base of a long ladder. This st will be run down before the final sts are cast off at top of sleeve.

2nd row – Purl.

These 2 rows set the pattern. Continue in patt inc 1 st at each end of 1st row, then on every following 8th (6th, 6th, 6th, 4th, 4th, 4th) row until there are 61 (55, 65, 75, 57, 65, 79) sts, then on every following 10th (8th, 8th, 8th, 6th, 6th, 6th) row until there are 69 (75, 79, 83, 89, 93, 99) sts.

Work a few rows straight until sleeve measures 43 (43, 43, 43, 44, 44, 44) cm from beg, ending after a purl row. Shape top – Cast off 6 (7,8, 9, 11, 12, 13) sts loosely at beg of next 2 rows – 57 (61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 73) sts. Work 0 (0,2,4, 6,8, 6) rows straight.

Dec 1 st at each end of next row, then on every foll alt row until 27 (31, 33, 37, 39, 43, 43) sts remain, then on every row until 17 (21, 23, 27, 29, 33, 33) sts remain.

Cast off dropping off the made st for ladder as you cast off. Run the made st down to top of rib.

TO COMPLETE

Join shoulders stitching firmly. Right border – With

3.25 mm needles and right side facing, pick up and knit 130 (133, 135, 136, 139, 141, 143) sts evenly to top of shoulder, knit across first 14 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) sts from stitch-holder – 144 (148, 151, 153, 157, 160, 163) sts. Note: a 3rd 3.25 mm needle may be needed to hold extra sts on larger sizes.

1st to 3rd rows – Knit.

4th row – K1, now knit to end of row wrapping yarn round needle twice for every st.

5th row – Knit dropping off extra loops.

6th row – Knit.

7th row (picot) – Cast off 3 sts, ★ slip st on right needle back on to left needle and cast on 2 sts, now cast off 2 sts, K2tog, slip 2nd st on right needle over 1st st, cast off 4 more sts firmly, rep from ★ until no sts remain.

Left border – Work as right border but commencing at back of neck.

To Make Up – Join border seams at back of neck. Sew in sleeves. Join side and sleeve seams. n