There is a kind of sweater that I am always going to want to knit: a lacy thing that is fun and engaging, or some cables because their pattern repeats are like potato chips (I always want one more).

And then there is the sweater that I am always going to reach for when I feel a chill… something unfussy, a raglan which will sit comfortably over anything I happen to be wearing, a shawl collar to ward off drafts and extra long sleeves that will keep my wrists warm or fold back when I find myself up to my elbows in dinner. A uniform sweater but with a little something special to keep it fun.

The Ausable Cardigan is named for the Ausable River that runs from the Adirondack mountains in upstate New York to Lake Champlain. There is a fantastic gorge there that is so magical it has been attracting tourists since the 1870s.

This cardigan for some reason reminded me of class trips there in elementary school (an exciting journey because we got take the ferry across the lake from Vermont!) Or maybe it reminds me of myself as I was then: little bit of girly-girl, and a whole lot of tomboy.

SIZE
XSS, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X
shown in size S with 6 inches/15 cm of ease?

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest/Bust: 40.75 (45, 49.25, 53.5, 57.75, 62.25, 66.5) inches/ 103.5 (114, 125, 136, 146.5, 158, 167) cm
Length: 22.5 (23.25, 24.75, 24.75, 25.75, 26.75, 27.25) inches/ 57 (59, 63, 63, 65.5, 68, 69) cm

MATERIALS
Yarn
spacer Berroco Catena 94% Extra fine Merino Wool 6% nylon; 120 yd/110m per 1.75z/50 g skein; color: Cats Eye; 9 (10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18) skeins

Recommended needle size
(always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter’s gauge is unique)
US #9/5.5mm circular needle, 29 inch/74cm
US #10.5/6.5mm circular needle, 29 inch/74cm
1 set US #9/5.5mm DPNs
1 set US #10.5/6.5mm DPNs

Notions
4 stitch markers
five 1” buttons
yarn needle
waste yarn to hold sts

GAUGE
15 sts/22 rows = 4”/10 cm in Moss stitch on larger needles.