Calm Down Cardigan by Lily Kate France

Calm Down Cardigan

Knitting
April 2023
DK (11 wpi) ?
22 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches
in stocking stitch
US 6 - 4.0 mm
US 5 - 3.75 mm
US 4 - 3.5 mm
1549 - 2394 yards (1416 - 2189 m)
to fit bust 28-30 (32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46) [48-50, 52-54, 56-58, 60-62] inches
English
This pattern is available for £7.50 GBP buy it now

The ‘elegant everyday’ cardigan every wardrobe needs Luxury designer knitwear vibes with the neatest finishing you ever did see.

YARN: DK weight yarn, approx 1416 (1476; 1606; 1691; 1780) (1879; 2018; 2108; 2189) metres / 1529 (1594; 1734; 1826; 1921) (2029; 2178; 2275; 2363) yards.

Sample shown in BC Garn Loch Lomond (100% wool, 150m per 50g skein) in shade Silver. If using this yarn, you will need 10 (10; 11; 12; 12) 13; 14; 15; 15 skeins.

GAUGE: 22 sts and 32 rows to 4 inches / 10 cm in stocking stitch blocked. Suggested size 4 mm.

NEEDLES & NOTIONS:

  • 4mm and 3.75mm needles of any length (for body)
  • 3.5mm long circular needle (for buttonband) 4mm and 3.75mm needle(s) of your preferred length for working small circumferences in the round (ie. DPNs, short circulars, magic loop) for sleeves
  • 3 buttons (diameter approx 22 mm)
  • Removable stitch markers
  • Tapestry needle
  • Scrap yarn

SIZING: 1 (2; 3; 4; 5) (6; 7; 8; 9) detailed below, designed to be worn with between 10-12 inches / 25-30 cm positive ease. Sample shown is a size 2 worn on a 34” bust with approx 10” positive ease.

Since this is already a generously fitting garment, if you are between sizes, size down.

To fit bust: 28-30 (32-34; 36-38; 40-42; 44-46) (48-50; 52-54; 56-58; 60-62) inches / 71-76 (81-86; 91-97; 102-107; 112-117) (122-127; 132-137; 142-147; 152-157) cm.

Finished bust: 39.5 (43.5; 47.5; 51.5; 55.5) (59.5; 63.5; 67.5; 71.5) inches / 100 (111; 120; 131; 140) (151; 161; 172; 181) cm.

Construction: the Calm Down cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down. You begin by working a small saddle shoulder piece in rib, then place these stitches on hold and pick up along the edge of the piece just made to work the left front. Picking up is done from the wrong side of the work so the saddle shoulder appears raised on the right side. Increases are worked to shape the front neck and armhole, before the left front stitches are placed on scrap yarn.

A second piece is worked for the right saddle shoulder, which you will pick up along the edge of, cast on stitches for the back neck, then join with the left shoulder in order to work the upper back. After completing the armhole increases, the back stitches are placed aside and the right front is worked to match the left.

Once the upper body is complete, both fronts and the back are joined together to work the lower body in one piece. The body is worked straight without shaping until you reach the front notch section, at which point you will begin decreasing at the front edges to shape the notch. The hem is finished in 1x1 rib with a tubular cast off.

The buttonband is worked before the sleeves as this will allow the cardigan to be tried on properly without curling. Stitches are picked up for the buttonband which is worked using applied double knitting, and includes short rows for smooth curves around corners.

Stitches are picked up around the armholes to work the sleeves, and a sleeve cap is created with short rows. The rib from the saddle shoulder continues down the sleeve. Decreases taper the sleeve in to the cuff, which is worked in 1x1 rib.

Yarn choices: any yarn (or combination of yarns) that meets the gauge can technically be used for this pattern. However, it is worth considering that the rib panels down the sides and the sleeves curl inwards before blocking. With a natural fibre yarn (such as wool used in the sample), this curl completely disappears when blocked. With synthetic fibres, the curl will not block out as well.

The Calm Down Cardigan is #SizeInclusive to a bust of 62”.

@lilykatemakes #CalmDownCardigan