Honey Cardigan

*The Honey Cardigan is a relaxed drop shoulder style cardigan in a cable and rib pattern with a polished double knit button band. Knitted in baby alpaca yarn, this layering item is ultra soft with a subtle halo that is both cozy looking and yields great cable stitch definition.* **CONSTRUCTION** — The Honey Cardigan is worked top down and seamlessly in an allover cable and rib pattern. Circular needles are used to work flat, beginning with the upper back that increases to the width of the back, then is placed on hold. Stitches are picked up at each side to create the shoulders and front neckline shaping, then joined at the underarms to the back. The body is worked flat and finished with 1x1 ribbing, then bound off. Stitches are picked up around the cardigan front with a long cable, and a double knitted buttonband is created using a DPN. Stitches are picked up around each armhole then worked in the round while decreasing, finishing with 1x1 ribbing and bound off. After blocking, buttons are sewn to the buttonband. **SUPPLIES** — 1265 (1385) 1410 (1535) 1630 (1880) 1970 (2090) 2185 yds [[1155 (1265) 1290 (1405) 1490 (1720) 1800 (1910) 2000 m]] of Yarnalia Cozy 100% baby alpaca (100g; 219 yds [[200m]] per ball) in color Cobblestone or similar DK to light worsted yarn that meets gauge. 3.25mm(US3) DPNs and 40” circular needles [[100 cm]] for button band 3.5mm(US4) 16”, and 32” circular needles [[40, and 80 cm]] for ribbing 4.5mm(US7) DPNs, 16”, 24”, 32-40” circular needles [[40, 60, and 80-100 cm]] for main fabric Notions: Three ¾” [[20 mm]] buttons, thread and needle, 4 locking stitch markers, scissors, yarn needle, waste yarn/barber cord, measuring tape. Optional: Cable connector, counter/locking stitch markers for row counting **SIZES** — 1 (2) 3 (4) 5 (6) 7 (8) 9 Finished bust measurement: 40¼ (44½) 46½ (51½) 53½ (59¾) 64 (66¾) 71” [[101 (112) 117 (129) 134 (150) 160 (167) 178 cm]] Measure fullest point of torso and add recommended ease to find the ideal finished bust measurement. This cardigan is designed with a recommended positive ease of 7½-10½” [[19-26.5 cm]]. It is relaxed at the bust and drapes straight through the body with dropped shoulders. The sample pictured is size 2 worn with 10½” [[26.5 cm]] of ease. **GAUGE** — (4.5mm needle) 23 sts x 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Cable Rib worked flat and in the round, wet blocked. If gauge is off, choose a needle size larger/smaller accordingly to try again. Cable and rib pattern charts for swatching are in the pattern file. **SKILLS** — This is a written pattern assuming foundational sweater knitting knowledge and is not intended to be beginner friendly. Supplemental research or practice to learn new skills may be required to complete this project. This pattern requires knowledge of knitting flat and in the round, increasing, picking up stitches, reading charts, and Italian cast on and bind off. The upper back, fronts, and body are worked flat with the longer circular needle cable lengths. The sleeves are worked in the round with the shortest cable length or a long cable for magic loop. The button band is worked with a long cable and a DPN. Cast on and bind off methods suggested can be substituted with any other.