This is the cardigan-version of my festive sweater scheduled for 2022. As the pattern is already finished, I wanted to give you a cheeky early-release. In this year-long knitalong (KAL) we’re utilising that annual festive knitting-mojo early on!

The cardigan is worked top-down, in the round, and can have yoke-only or all-over colourwork. Choose from 20 charts (deer, hearts, trees, snowmen, presents, bells) to make your cardigan as kitsch or as elegant as you want.

I hope you will enjoy this pattern, and if you need any help, please do not hesitate to contact me in my Ravelry group ‘Skeindeer Knits’. It’s the best place for swift support.

Yarn
La Bien Aimée Helix or Felix (100% wool, 650 m / 711 yds, 100 g) held double.

Alternatively you can use one strand of fingering or sport-weight non-superwash woollen spun sheep wool yarn, such as:
Rauma Finull, Hillesvåg Ask, Vilje or Sølje, Sandnes Tove, Navia Duo, Holst Supersoft, Jamieon’s Spindrift, J&S 2 ply jumper weight.

If you are holding two lace-weight strands double, be sure to double the amount below.

All-over colourwork
Main colour: (774, 831, 885, 924, 998) (1057, 1104, 1157, 1204, 1273) m / (846, 908, 968, 1010, 1091) (1156, 1208, 1265, 1316, 1392) yds.
Contrast colour: (366, 396, 423, 443, 480) (510, 533, 559, 579, 615) m / (400, 433, 462, 484, 525) (558, 583, 612, 634, 673) yds.

Yoke-only colourwork
Main colour: (1010, 1084, 1155, 1206, 1302) (1380, 1442, 1510, 1571, 1662) m / (1104, 1186, 1263, 1318, 1424) (1509, 1577, 1652, 1718, 1817) yds.
Contrast colour: (133, 144, 146, 153, 165) (172, 181, 188, 194, 210) m / (146, 157, 160, 167, 181) (189, 198, 206, 212, 229) yds.

Needles
Gauge-size needles for yoke, body and sleeves, 1 mm below-gauge circular needles for ribbed neckline, hem and cuffs.

The sample was made using 3.75 mm (US 5) and 2.75 mm (US 2), using 4 mm (US 6) for the stranded colourwork.

Gauge
24 sts x 36 (32) rnds = 10 cm / 4” in stockinette stitch (stranded colourwork).

Sizes
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

To fit bust (86, 95, 103, 111, 120) (128, 136, 145, 153, 161) cm / (34, 37, 41, 44, 47) (50, 54, 57, 60, 64)”.

To be worn with 0-8 cm / 0-3” of positive ease. The sample is knit in size 5.

Notions
2 stitch markers
8 buttons (20 mm / 0.8” diameter)
A crochet hook about the same size as your below gauge-size needles.

Construction
This simple colourwork cardigan is worked top-down, seamlessly in the round, finishing with rib for both sleeves and body.

The pattern starts with a ribbed neckline worked in-the-round, and short-rows worked flat, to raise the neckline. Increases for the yoke are incorporated into the rest-rows of the colourwork chart.

Once the yoke is complete you can choose between either yoke-only colourwork or all-over colourwork.

Finally, cut the steek, and pick up and work button-bands flat in rib. Only non-superwash woollen spun yarn can be cut open without sewing seam reinforcements.