Primrose Cardigan

**Primrose Cardigan** is a delicate, feminine cardigan worked seamlessly from the top down, featuring lace flowers, twisted cables, tiny bobbles, a picot (or ribbed) hem and a double-knit button band. The soft yoke and neat button band give it a polished, vintage-inspired feel, while the sleeves and body are knitted with room to breathe. **About the design** The fabric combines three stitch patterns that run from the shoulders down the body and sleeves: - Primrose lace motif (11 stitches), repeated every 9 rows and accented with small bobbles - Cable twist (6 stitches), repeated every 5 rows - Vertical lace (5 stitches), a simple 2-row repeat All patterns are charted, and the written rows for the pattern repeat are provided in the pattern. Charts are included for the Back, Front and Sleeve of every size (XS–4XL). The hem and cuffs can be finished in two ways: - Picot hem: worked with a folded picot turning row and bound off by joining the live stitches to the cast-on edge - 1×1 ribbed hem: on a smaller needle, with a stretchy bind-off The button bands and neckline are worked in a double-knitting technique with a tubular cast-on for a clean, reversible, professional finish. Buttonholes are worked in the double-knit band, with step-by-step instructions. **Construction** - Worked seamlessly from the top down - The back neck is cast on first and shaped with short rows to create a comfortable fit across the shoulders - Stitches are then picked up along both shoulders, and the left and right fronts are worked separately while the neckline is shaped - Once the fronts reach the required neck depth, they are joined and the yoke is worked flat - Raglan increases are worked along the four raglan lines until the desired yoke depth is reached - The sleeve caps are shaped using German short rows for a smooth, comfortable fit - The sleeves are separated and placed on hold while the body is worked flat to the hem - The sleeves are returned to the needles and worked in the round to the desired length, then finished with picot or 1×1 rib cuffs - Finally, stitches are picked up along both front edges and around the back neck to knit the button bands and neckline as one continuous piece; the buttonholes are worked on the left front band, and the buttons are sewn on after blocking **Sizes** XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL): 8 sizes Finished bust circumference: 95 (101) 110 (117) 131 (138) 157 (166) cm [37.4 (39.8) 43.3 (46.1) 51.6 (54.3) 61.8 (65.4) in] Yoke depth: 17 (17.5) 18 (19) 20 (21) 22 (24) cm [6.7 (6.9) 7.1 (7.5) 7.9 (8.3) 8.7 (10) in] Upper arm circumference: 28 (30) 32 (34) 36 (38) 40 (46) cm [11.0 (11.8) 12.6 (13.4) 14.2 (15.0) 15.7 (18) in] Back shoulder width: 35 (36) 38 (40) 42 (44) 46 (53) cm [13.8 (14.2) 15.0 (15.7) 16.5 (17.3) 18.1 (20.9) in] Length (from top of shoulder to hem): 48 (50) 52 (54) 56 (58) 60 (66) cm [18.9 (19.7) 20.5 (21.3) 22.0 (22.8) 23.6 (26) in] **Gauge** 24 sts × 30 rows = 10 × 10 cm [4 × 4 in] in pattern, measured after blocking, on 3.5 mm needles. Gauge is particularly important for achieving the intended finished measurements. Please knit and block a swatch the same way you will treat the finished garment. The pattern includes a guide for adjusting your needle size and for choosing a different size if your gauge is only slightly off. **Yarn** 2 strands of UPW RWS Wool (80% wool, 20% polyamide; 2/17.5 Nm, fingering weight) held together throughout. Two strands of fingering weight held together give approximately a Sport / light DK weight yarn. Estimated yardage: 2,375 (2,375) 2,850 (2,850) 3,325 (3,800) 4,275 m [2,597 (2,597) 3,117 (3,117) 3,636 (4,156) 4,675 yd] Estimated weight: ~271 (271) 326 (326) 380 (434) 489 g If using Knitting for Olive (Merino and Soft Silk Mohair held together): - Merino (250 m / 50 g): 5 (5) 6 (6) 7 (8) 9 skeins - Soft Silk Mohair (225 m / 25 g): 5 (5) 6 (6) 7 (8) 9 skeins Amounts are estimates and may vary with your tension, gauge, modifications and yarn characteristics. Please buy enough yarn before starting, especially with hand-dyed yarn, as colour and dye-lot availability may vary. Suggested substitutes (as long as you can achieve gauge): - Sandnes Garn Sunday (held double) - Knitting for Olive Merino (held double) - Knitting for Olive Merino + Soft Silk Mohair - Filcolana Arwetta Classic (held double) - DROPS Baby Merino (held double) - DROPS Flora (held double) - De Rerum Natura Ulysse - Cascade 220 Sport - Sandnes Garn Peer Gynt (swatch carefully to obtain the required gauge) Substitutions may affect the fabric, drape, appearance and yardage, so always make and block a swatch before starting. **Needles and notions** - 3.5 mm [US 4] circular needle, long cable (80–100 cm recommended), or the size needed to obtain gauge - 3.0 mm [US 2½] circular needle for the neckline, button bands and ribbed edges - Interchangeable or fixed circular needles, as you prefer - Buttons, 15–17 mm - Stitch markers - Stitch holders or waste yarn - Tapestry needle, and sewing needle and thread for the buttons **What's included in the pattern** - Written instructions for 8 sizes - Full charts (Back, Front and Sleeve) for every size, with red lines marking where to join, finish raglan increases and separate the sleeves - Written rows for the main pattern repeat - Step-by-step German short row instructions for the sleeve caps - Two hem/cuff options: picot and 1×1 rib - Double-knit button bands with tubular cast-on, and a step-by-step double-knit buttonhole - Neckline instructions, including the double-knit neckband and a folded, sewn bind-off - A gauge and sizing guide - Pattern notes to help you check your stitch counts and keep track of your progress **Skills used** Knitting flat and in the round, lace, cables, bobbles, picking up stitches, casting on at the edge, raglan shaping, German short rows, double knitting, tubular cast-on, double-knit buttonholes, picot hem or 1×1 rib, sewn bind-off. For any questions, unclear instructions or issues while knitting, please contact me directly via email or Instagram (@ivoryloops.knitwear). Take your time, read each section carefully, and enjoy every little stitch. ♡