Here’s a great way to use up all those luxury skeins, leftover skeins, and irresistible skeins that were only available as one! This zippered cardigan makes the most of your precious fiber possessions by striping special with commonplace. (Or even two special or common yarns together: we won’t tell!) Feel that yardage stretch to create something practical and beautiful!

In this design, the two sleeves and the body are knitted back and forth (flat) until the armholes. The three pieces are then joined, and the yoke is worked back and forth to the end. For zipper facings, stitches are picked up along each edge of the cardigan opening, then bound off using the i-cord bind off.

Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced. The pattern is quite straightforward and uses only basic techniques: knitting, purling, decreasing, and increasing. However, the pattern also contains a number of special details and techniques, such as a contrast edge cast on, carrying colors for stripes, installing a zipper, and neatly seaming the sleeves. Not to worry! I included several picture tutorials, and many explanations and guidelines to ensure your success! Read them if you’d like, skim/skip them if you’d rather get started right away!

Sizes: 3-6 months (6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months). To fit chest circumference 18 (19, 20, 21)“ (45.5 (48.5, 51, 53.5) cm). Finished chest circumference 20½ (21½, 22½, 23½)” (51.5 (54.5, 57, 60) cm). Please refer to schematic for additional finished measurements.

Yarn: DK or light worsted weight, about 150 (170, 195, 225) yd (137 (155, 178, 206) m) of each color. Using light worsted weight yarn will create a slightly denser fabric, perfect for using this sweater as outerwear on chilly days.

I used hand-dyed, hand-spun Budgie yarn (100% New Zealand Polwarth), and Classic Elite Princess (40% merino, 28% viscose, 15% nylon, 10% cashmere, 7% angora).

Gauge: After blocking, 21.3 sts and 32 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch. You may find it convenient to measure gauge over 3” for a round number: 16 sts and 24 rows = 3” (7.5 cm) in Stockinette stitch.

Notions: Lengths of scrap yarn or stitch holders, separating zipper, darning needle. Optional: some grosgrain ribbon to cover the back of the zipper.

Some additional information on my blog.