Hanakotoba is a Japanese word that can be translated as “the language of flowers”: what each type of flower expresses, both for its traditional symbolism and for what we want to tell when we create a bouquet with them… or a pair of socks, a sweater…

Hanakotoba cardigan is a circular yoke that is worked seamlessly from the top down. The neck is worked first, after that, several series of short rows are used for a comfortable and beautifully shaped finish.
The yoke is shaped with increases that are evenly distributed around the entire circumference of the upper body.
Sleeves are then placed on hold and the body is worked toward the hem. The sleeve stitches are then placed on the needles again and worked in the round toward the cuffs.
The cardigan is relaxed fit and as it is knitted top-down lengths are easily adaptable.
The cardigan is steeked. The front steek is not cut open until after the body and sleeves are completed to allow the cardigan to be held together neatly during the knitting of the latter. The garment should be tried on before cutting to ensure a good fit.
Please, note the colorwork is charted only. The colorwork requires a bit of attention. There are several rounds where 3 colors are worked at the same time. In order to simplify the colorwork technique, as a suggestion, the pattern provides a photo and video tutorial for Duplicate stitch embroidery.

Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Bust circumference of the finished sweater: cm 92 (102,5, 111, 116,5, 127, 135,5, 151, 160) cm/ 36 ¼ (40 ¼, 43 ¾, 45 ¾, 50, 53 ¼, 59 ½, 63)’’. The cardigan is designed to be worn with approximately 5-15 cm / 2-6’’ of positive ease.
Model has 85 cm / 33½’’ bust, stands 164 cm / 64½’’ and is wearing size 2.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

A = Bust circumference
B = Yoke depth
C = Length from armhole to lower edge
D = Sleeves length (from underarm)
E = Armhole circumference
F = Cuff circumference

Yarn
Soft Donegal by Retrosaria Rosa Pomar 50g = 190m / 208yd (100% merino wool)
Sample shown in:

MC — 1626 Beige — 1131 (1244, 1449, 1470, 1584, 1696, 1809, 1923) meters / 1237 (1361, 1585, 1609, 1732, 1856, 1980, 2103) yards
CC 1 — 5507 White — 25 (28, 30, 33, 35, 37, 40, 42) meters / 27 (30, 33, 36, 38, 41, 44, 46} yards
CC 2 — 5525 Green — 55 (61, 66, 72, 77, 83, 88, 94) meters / 60 (66, 72,78, 84, 90, 96, 102) yards
CC 3 — 5571 Yellow — 25 (28, 30, 33, 35, 37, 40, 42) meters / 27 (30, 33, 33, 8, 41, 44, 46) yards
CC 4 — 5519 Light blue — 25 (28, 30, 33, 35, 37, 40, 42) meters / 27 (30, 33, 36, 38, 41, 44, 46) yards

Needles
3 mm / US 2½ circular needle 24”/60 cm or 32”/80 cm and 3,5 mm / US 4 circular needle 24”/60 cm or 32”/80 cm

Notions
2 stitch markers (one different for BOR) • waste yarn for holding the sleeve stitches • tapestry needle to weave in the yarn ends • 6 — 8 buttons 5/8 inch / 1.5 cm diameter (optional you may need 6 — 8 stitch markers to mark the buttonholes) • 60’’ / 150 cm long decorative ribbon for lining the button/buttonhole bands (optional) • sewing thread for sewing down the cut steek edges • scissors

Gauge
23 sts and 34 rows — 10x10 cm / 4x4’’ in stockinette / colorwork in the round with 3,5 mm / US 4 needles, washed and blocked.