Largo cardi is a thick, drapey cardigan with cables and a ribbed texture, worked in soft yarn combination. The design challenged my knitting needles for a long time, and so I named it ‘largo’, which in Italian defines a broad and very slow piece of music. Largo cardi is the ideal project for calm, meditative knitting. The design includes a deep v-neck, balloon sleeves and a slightly cropped, boxy fit. Choose between two different kinds of sleeves, depending on your taste or temper. Both options are included here.

CONSTRUCTION
Begin by casting on stitches for the neck and work the top part of the back. Then create the shoulders by casting on stitches using the backwards loop method. Work one front at a time while simultaneously making increases for the v-neck. Join the fronts and the back and continue working flat while making cables and working the ribbed texture. Finally, pick up stitches for the sleeves and the button band.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
Intermediate to advanced.

SIZES
1 (2) 3 (4) 5

Chest circumference of finished sweater approx.: 112 (124) 138 (156) 166 cm / 44 (48.8) 54.3 (61.4) 65.4”
Length from neck to hem (without neck ribbing) approx.: 47 (50) 52 (52) 54 cm / 18.5 (19.7) 20.5 (20.5) 21.3”
Sleeve length approx.: 48 (48) 46 (46) 45 cm / 18.9 (18.9) 18.1 (18.1) 17.7”
Body length from underarm approx.: 30 (30) 32 (32) 36 cm / 11.8 (11.8) 12.6 (12.6) 14.2”

Size guide:
Largo cardi is shown in a size 2, giving me a positive ease of 45 cm / 17.7”. Measure yourself across your chest to decide on your preferred ease. I suggest a maximum of 50 cm /19.7” and a minimum of 15 cm / 5.9”.

YARN AND GAUGE
Two strands are held together throughout.
1 strand Peruvian (shown in col. Marcipan melange 977)
held with
1 strand Tilia Silk Mohair (shown in col. Latte 336), both from Filcolana.

Estimated yarn quantity:
11 (12) 13 (14) 15 balls / 550 (600) 650 (700) 750 g Peruvian (100 % wool, 100 m / 50 g)
5 (6) 6 (7) 8 balls / 125 (150) 150 (175) 200 g Tilia (70% kid mohair & 30% silk, 210 m / 25 g)

Gauge:
Rib pattern after washing and blocking: 17 sts x 21 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4” on a 5 mm / US 8 needle.
Cable pattern after washing and blocking: 21 sts x 25 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4” on a 5 mm / US 8 needle.

For your swatch in rib pattern: Cast on 27 sts using the long-tail cast-on method, and work from the WS: k1 (edge st), k1, p2, k1, repeat -, ending with k1, work from the RS: k1 (edge st), p1, k2, p1, repeat -, ending with k1 (edge st).

Continue working the sts as shown until your swatch measures approx. 11-12 cm / 4.3-4.7”. Bind off in pattern, wash the swatch and block it if necessary, and measure when dry.

Suggested needles
5 mm / US 8 cable needle (40 – 80 cm / 16 – 32”)
4 mm / US 6 cable needle (80 cm / 32”)
3.5 mm / US 4 cable needle (80 cm / 32” for magic loop)
Cable needle 4-5 mm, optional

NOTIONS
3-4 buttons, stitch markers, stitch holder cord or scrap yarn