Pattern #6, a Cozy Cardigan

          Here's pattern #6, a warm and cozy cardigan.  It's been perfect for the wintry Portland weather, made from Rowanspun Aran, a soft and sturdy yarn.  Unfortunately I bought this yarn several years ago and have had it sitting in my stash waiting for the perfect project, and while it was doing that it was discontinued by the company.  A good alternative would Malabrigo Worsted, it has the same yardage and is soooooo soft.   I hope you enjoy this one, it's one of my favourites, with 3/4 length sleeves and once again knitted from the top down for easy finishing.  For the buttons I went to my collection of vintage buttons and used 15 of them on the button band to give this cardigan an eclectic feel.  Using all the same kind of button would give this cardigan a more modern feel.
          As usual, feel free to use the pattern to make yourself a cardigan but please remember to reference me as the designer.  Thank you!

Mistake Rib Cardigan Version 2.0

5 skeins Rowanspun Aran  (Unfortunately this yarn is now discontinued.  A good substitute would be Malabrigo Worsted which has the same amount of yardage.  Adjust your needle size to get the correct stitch gauge.)

size 7 24” circulars

size 5 24” circulars

4 stitch markers in colour A, 2 stitch markers in colour B

15 buttons, 1” to 1 1/2” in size  ( I used vintage buttons I had in my button box for an eclectic look)

36” around and 28” long

Gauge:  4.5 sts to 1"

Mistake Rib:
(Worked over an uneven number of sts)
Row 1:  K2, p2 to last 3 sts, k2, p1
Row 2:  k2, p2, to last 3 sts, k2, p1
Repeat these two rows for ribbing

This ribbing looks very odd for the first few rows.  If you would like a visual guide for this stitch there's a great one here:  http://www.wikihow.com/Knit-the-Mistake-Rib-Pattern.

I had some lovely grey tweed yarn from Rowan sitting in my stash and had, for years, been trying to figure out what to do with it.  During the summer I had knit a shorter version of this cardigan in Noro Kureyon and thought that a longer version in this tweedy wool would be perfect for Portland’s changeable fall and winter weather.  I changed the width of the front bands so I could have larger buttons and added a patch pocket for those days when you don’t want or need to carry a purse.

The neck of this cardigan is shaped with short row shaping so the collar will lay flat. This is a top down cardigan, and you will be increasing during the short row shaping so be sure and read through the pattern before beginning the cardigan to familiarize yourself with what you will be doing.

Body:  cast on 16 sts, pm, cast on 8 sts, pm, cast on 38 sts, pm, cast on 8 sts, pm, cast on 16 sts, pm

purl 1 row

Begin short row shaping: 

row 1: knit across 59 sts, w & t

row 2: purl across 35 sts, w & t

row 3: knit across 38 sts, w & t

row 4: purl across 40 sts, w & t

row 5: knit 2, kfb, sm, kfb, knit across 36 sts, kfb, sm, kfb, knit 1, w & t

row 6: purl across 49 sts, w & t

row 7: knit 4 sts, kfb, sm,  kfb, knit across 38 sts, kfb, sm, kfb, knit 3 sts, w & t

row 8: purl across 54 sts, w & t

row 9: knit 6, kfb, sm, kfb, knit across 40 sts, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to end

row 10: purl to end

row 11: knit across 15 sts, kfb, sm, kfb, knit 9, kfb, sm, kfb, knit across 42 sts, kfb,sm, kfb, knit across 9 sts, kfb, kfb, knit to end          

row 12: purl

This ends the short row shaping for the cardigan.  From here on you will increase before and after the markers as normal by knitting the front and back of each st.  All wrong side rows will be purled.

row 13:  knit to 1st marker, kfb, sm, kfb, repeat 3 more times, knit to end

row 14: purl

Repeat these two rows until there will be 34 sts for each front, 45 sts for each sleeve, and 80 sts for back

Divide for body and sleeves:

knit across front sts, remove markers, place 43 sleeve sts on scrap yarn, sm, knit across back sts, remove marker, place 43 sleeve sts on scrap yarn, sm, knit to end

(144 sts left on needles)

Body:

*please note all waist shaping for this cardigan will take place at back darts

Starting with a purl row, work 3 rows in st st

Set up row for back darts: knit across front to side markers, sm, knit 15 sts, pm, knit across 50 sts, pm, knit to end

purl 1 row

Decrease row: knit to 1st back dart marker, sm, ssk, knit to 2 sts before 2nd dart marker, k2tog, knit to end

row 2: purl

row 3: knit

row 4: purl

Repeat these 4 rows 9 more times  (124 sts left)

work 10 rows in st st

Increase row: knit to 1st back dart marker, sm, k1, m1, knit to 1 st before 2nd back dart marker, k1, m1, sm, knit to end

row 2: purl

row 3: knit

row 4: purl 

Repeat these 4 rows 8 more times, ending with a RS row

Purl 1 row

Knit 1 row

Purl 1 row

Knit to 1st back dart marker, sm, k1, m1, k21, m1, k21, m1, k1, sm, knit to end, (145 sts)

Change to smaller needles

Begin Mistake Rib

WS:  p2, k2, to last st, p1

RS:   k2, p2, to last st, k1

Repeat these two rows until ribbing measures 4”

Bind off

Sleeves:  

Transfer 43 sts from scrap yarn to larger size needles

Work in st st for 16”, end with a RS row

Change to smaller needles and begin Mistake Rib

WS:  p2, k2, to last st, k1  

RS:   p2, k2, to last st, k1

Repeat these 2 rows until ribbing measures 1”, place removable marker or scrap yarn to mark last row

Work 4” more in Mistake Rib

Bind off

Sew up sleeve seam

Fold rib at 1” marker 

Tack down in several equally spaced intervals at bind-off edge so that it will stay put when wearing.

Repeat for second sleeve

Pocket:  

Using smaller needles cast on 29 sts

Work in mistake rib until pocket measures 6"

Bind off

Sew onto garment, lining ribs on pocket up with the ribs on ribbing  (pin pocket in place while doing this)

Buttonhole band:

With right side of garment facing you, pick up 119 sts along the right hand side edge

Work 7 rows in Mistake Rib as follows:

WS:  p2, k2, work to last st, k1

RS:  repeat WS row

Place buttonholes:  (row 8), work 4 sts in pattern, yo, k2tog, (work 7 sts in pattern, yo, k2tog) repeat 13 more times, work last 2 sts in pattern

Work 5 more rows in Mistake Rib

Bind off

Buttonband:

With right side of the garment facing you, pick up 119 sts along left hand side edge

Work 13 rows in Mistake Rib as follows:

WS:  p2, k2, to last st, k1

RS:  repeat WS row

Bind off

Place buttons to correspond to buttonholes

Wear and enjoy!

Pocket is placed so the ribs on it correspond to the ribs on ribbing