A basic cardigan is shown unembellished.

Shown in size Small

Sizes

Directions are for women’s size X-Small.  Changes for sizes Small, Medium, Large, 1X and 2X are in parentheses.

Finished Measurements

Bust (closed) – 33(35-39-43-47-51)”

Length – 21 1/2(21 1/2-22-22 1/2-23-23 1/2)”

Materials

Berroco Ultra Alpaca (100 grs), 5(5-6-7-8-8) hanks #6243 Navy

Straight knitting needles, sizes 6 and 8 OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE

2 St Holders

Five 3/4” buttons

Gauge

20 sts = 4”;  26 rows = 4” in St st on size 8 needles.

TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE.

Back

With smaller needles, cast on 93(99-109-119-129-139) sts.

Row 1 (RS):  K1, * p1, k1, rep from * across.

Row 2:  P1, * k1, p1, rep from * across.  Rep these 2 rows until piece measures 1” from beg, end on WS, dec 10 sts evenly spaced across – 83(89-99-109-119-129) sts.  Change to larger needles and work even in St st until piece measures 2 1/2” from beg, end on WS.

Dec Row (RS):  K16(18-20-23-25-28), SSK, k47(49-55-59-65-69), k2 tog, k16(18-20-23-25-28) – 81(87-97-107-117-127) sts.  Continue in this manner to dec 1 st 16(18-20-23-25-28) sts in from each edge every 1” twice more, then every 3/4” 4 times – 69(75-85-95-105-115) sts.  Work even until piece measures 9” from beg, end on WS.  Inc 1 st each end of next row – 71(77-87-97-107-117) sts.  Rep this inc every 3/4” 4 times more, then every 1/2” twice.  Work even on 83(89-99-109-119-129) sts until piece measures 13 1/2” from beg, end on WS.

Shape Armholes:  Bind off 5(5-6-7-9-9) sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 73(79-87-95-101-111) sts.

Dec Row (RS):  K2, KSP, k to last 4 sts, SSK, k2 – 71(77-85-93-99-109) sts.  Rep this dec every RS row 8(8-10-11-12-14) times more.  Work even on 55(61-65-71-75-81) sts until armholes measure 7(7-7 1/2-8-8 1/2-9)”, end on WS.

Shape Shoulders and Neck:  Next Row (RS):  Bind off 3(4-6-5-7-8) sts, work until there are 9(11-11-13-13-15) sts on RH needle, join another ball of yarn and bind off center 31(31-31-35-35-35) sts, k to end.  Working both sides at once, bind off 3(4-6-5-7-8) sts at beg of the next row, then 4(5-5-6-6-7) sts at beg of the next 4 rows.  AT THE SAME TIME, dec 1 st at each neck edge every RS row once.

Left Front

With smaller needles, cast on 52(54-60-64-70-74) sts.

Row 1 (RS):  K1, * p1, k1, rep from * to last st, end k1.

Row 2:  K1, * p1, k1, rep from * to last st, end p1.  Rep these 2 rows until piece measures 1” from beg.  Change to larger needles.

Next Row (RS):  K to last 7 sts, decreasing 7 sts evenly spaced across, sl remaining 7 sts onto holder for frontband – 38(40-46-50-56-60) sts.  Work even in St st until piece measures 2 1/2” from beg, end on WS.

Dec Row (RS):  K16(18-20-23-25-28), SSK, k to end – 37(39-45-49-55-59) sts.  Continue in this manner to dec 1 st 16(18-20-23-25-28) sts in from side edge every 1” twice more, then every 3/4” 4 times.  Work even on 31(33-39-43-49-53) sts until piece measures 9” from beg, end on WS.  Inc 1 st at beg of the next row – 32(34-40-44-50-54) sts.  Rep this inc every 3/4” 4 times more, then every 1/2” twice.  Work even on 38(40-46-50-56-60) sts until piece measures 13 1/2” from beg, end on WS.

Shape Armhole and Neck:  Bind off 5(5-6-7-9-9) sts, k to last 5 sts, SSK (1st neck dec), k3.  Purl 1 row – 32(34-39-42-46-50) sts.

Dec Row (RS):  K2, KSP, k to last 5 sts, SSK, k3 – 30(32-37-40-44-48) sts.  Continue in this manner to dec at armhole edge every RS row 8(8-10-11-12-14) times more.  AT THE SAME TIME, dec at neck edge every RS row 2(0-0-1-1-0) times more, then every other RS row 9(10-11-11-12-12) times.  When all decs have been completed, work even on 11(14-16-17-19-22) sts until armhole measures 7(7-7 1/2-8-8 1/2-9)”, end on WS.  Bind off 3(4-6-5-7-8) sts at armhole edge once, then 4(5-5-6-6-7) sts twice for shoulder.

Right Front

With smaller needles, cast on 52(54-60-64-70-74) sts.

Row 1 (RS):  K2, * p1, k1, rep from * across.

Row 2:  P1, * k1, p1, rep from * to last st, end k1.  Rep these 2 rows until piece measures 1/2” from beg, end on WS.

Buttonhole Row:  K2, p2 tog, yo, work to end.  Work even in ribbing until piece measures 1”, end on RS.

Next Row (WS):  Work to last 7 sts, decreasing 7 sts evenly spaced across, then sl remaining 7 sts onto holder for frontband – 38(40-46-50-56-60) sts.  Work even in St st until piece measures 2 1/2” from beg, end on WS.

Dec Row (RS):  K20(20-24-25-29-30), k2 tog, k16(18-20-23-25-28) – 37(39-45-49-55-59) sts.  Complete to correspond to left front, reversing all shaping.  Work neck decs as k3, KSP and armhole decs as SSK, k2.  Bind off for armholes and shoulders on WS rows.

Sleeves

With smaller needles, cast on 45 sts.  Work in ribbing same as for back for 1”, end on RS.  Change to larger needles and p the next row, decreasing 5 sts evenly spaced across – 40 sts.  Work even in St st until piece measures 1 1/2” from beg, end on WS.

Inc Row (RS):  K1, M1k, k to last st, M1k, k1 – 42 sts.  Rep this inc every 1 3/4(1 3/4-1 1/4-1-3/4-3/4)” 9(9-12-14-17-19) times more.  Work even on 60(60-66-70-76-80) sts until sleeve measures 18” from beg, end on WS.

Shape Cap:  Bind off 5(5-6-7-9-9) sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 50(50-54-56-58-62) sts.

Dec Row (RS):  K2, KSP, k to last 4 sts, SSK, k2 – 48(48-52-54-56-60) sts.  Rep this dec every RS row 18(18-16-14-10-10) times more, then every other RS row 0(0-1-2-4-4) times, end on WS.  Bind off remaining 12(12-18-22-28-32) sts.

Finishing

Steam pieces lightly.  Sew shoulder seams.  Sew in sleeves.  Sew side and sleeve seams.

Left Frontband:  With RS facing, sl 7 sts from left front holder to smaller needle and join yarn.  M1k, then (p1, k1) 3 times, k1 – 8 sts.  Work even in ribbing as established until frontband, when slightly stretched, reaches the center of back neck, end on WS.  Sl sts onto holder.  Slip st inner edge of frontband to front and neck edge of sweater.  Mark the placement of 5 buttons along frontband, the first 1/2” up from lower edge, the last 1/2” below beg of neck shaping and the others spaced evenly between.

Right Frontband:  With WS facing, sl 7 sts from holder to smaller needle and join yarn.  M1p, (k1, p1) 3 times, k1 – 8 sts.  Complete to correspond to left frontband, making 4 more buttonholes opposite markers.  Sew inner edge of frontband to front and neck edge of sweater.  Weave sts from holders tog at back neck.  Sew on buttons.