The first time I tried this cardigan on after finishing it, I was in love. It’s comfortable and easy to wear, and is the perfect piece to show off a lovely lace top. The waist and hips are shaped to flatter, and the tie below the bust reinforces your shape. The ribbed bands begin at the center back neck with a provisional cast-on. This would also make a lovely coat - since it’s worked top-down, just keep knitting until you get to the perfect length for you!
This cardigan is worked from the top down, beginning with the back collar, which is worked in two directions from a provisional cast-on. Stitches are cast on for the back shoulders, and the back neck stitches are picked up from one long side edge of the collar; the back is worked to the armholes, then placed on hold while the fronts are picked up from the back shoulders and worked to the armholes. Then the back and fronts are joined and the body is worked to the bottom edge, where a shirttail hem is shaped using short rows. The sleeves are picked up from the armholes and worked to the cuffs, with short-row shaping to shape the sleeve caps.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Skills Used: Provisional cast-on, knitting in the round, increasing and decreasing, picking up stitches, Japanese Short-Rows (explained in the pattern)

Sizes: XX-Small (X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X)

Finished Measurements: 28 (32.5, 36, 40.5, 44.5, 48.25, 52.5, 56.25, 60, 64.25, 68)“ bust, with fronts tied at center; intended to be worn with approximately 4” ease

Materials: DK/light worsted weight wool: 1200 (1325, 1425, 1600, 1750, 1850, 2000, 2175, 2300, 2425, 2575) yards. NOTE: If you plan to increase the length of the Body or Sleeves, be sure to purchase extra yarn.

Model knit in Plymouth Yarn DK Merino Superwash (100% fine merino superwash wool; 50 grams / 130 yards): color #1017 Cilantro

Needles and Notions: Size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle, 32” long or longer, OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE; size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle, 12” long or longer, and set of five double-pointed needles, for Sleeves; crochet hook size F-5 (3.75 mm); stitch markers in 3 different colors; waste yarn; 2 removable markers; tapestry needle

Gauge: In Stockinette stitch, 23 stitches and 31 rows = 4”/10 cm

Visit my tutorial for illustrations and step-by-step instructions on how to work top-down set-in-sleeve patterns, including working short-row shaping. Watch my YouTube video to learn how to work Japanese Short Rows.

Buy any 4 of my patterns at the same time through my Ravelry store and automatically receive a 20% discount.