Our Ruffina cardigan, knit in Suede, is an update on tradition with draped front shawl collar construction that flatters the curves. Ruffina has a flirty peplum to camouflage the tummy.

Shown in size Small

Sizes

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

Finished Measurements

Bust (closed) – 32(36-40-44-48)”

Length – 20 1/2(20 1/2-21-21 1/2-22)”

Materials

11(12-14-16-18) Balls Berroco Suede (50 grs), #3714 Hopalong Cassidy

Straight knitting needles, size 8 (5.00 mm) OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Gauge

19 sts = 4”;  28 rows = 4” in St st

TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE

Back

With straight knitting needles, cast on 76(86-96-106-114) sts.  Work even in St st for 3/4”, end on WS.

Dec Row (RS):  K1, k2 tog, k to last 3 sts, SSK, k1 – 74(84-94-104-112) sts.  Rep this dec every 3/4” 8 times more – 58(68-78-88-96) sts.  Work even until piece measures 9” from beg, end on WS.

Inc Row (RS):  K1, M1k, k to last st, M1k, k1 – 60(70-80-90-98) sts.  Rep this inc every 1/2” 8 times more, end on WS – 76(86-96-106-114) sts.  Work even if necessary until piece measures 13” from beg, end on WS.

Shape Armholes:  Bind off 3(4-5-6-8) sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 70(78-86-94-98) sts.

Dec Row (RS):  K2, KSP, k to last 4 sts, SSK, k2 – 68(76-84-92-96) sts.  Rep this dec every RS row 6(8-9-11-11) times more – 56(60-66-70-74) sts.  Work even until armholes measure 6(6-61/2-7-71/2)”, end on WS.

Inc Row (RS):  K1, M1k, k to last st, M1k, k1 – 58(62-68-72-76) sts.  Rep this inc every RS row twice more – 62(66-72-76-80) sts.  Work even until armholes measure 7 1/2(7 1/2-8-8 1/2-9)”, end on WS.  Bind off.

Left Front

With straight needles, cast on 62(66-72-76-80) sts.  Work even in St st for 7”, end on RS.  P the next row, dec 24 sts across – 38(42-48-52-56) sts.

Shape Neck:  Dec Row (RS):  K to last 4 sts, SSK, k2 – 37(41-47-51-55) sts.  Rep this dec every RS row 5(1-1-0-0) times, every 4th row 18(20-21-20-18) times, then every 6th row 0(0-0-1-3) times.  AT THE SAME TIME, when piece measures 9” from beg (before all neck decs have been completed), end on WS.  Continuing to work neck decs, shape side as follows: 

Inc Row (RS):  K1, M1k, k to end. Rep this inc every 1/2" 7 times more. Work even at this edge if necessary until piece measures 13” from beg, end on WS.

Shape Armhole:  Still continuing to work neck decs, bind off 3(4-5-6-8) sts at beg of the next row.  Work 1 row even.

Dec Row (RS):  K2, KSP, work to end.  Rep this dec every RS row 6(8-9-11-11) times more.  Work even at armhole edge while continuing to work neck decs until armhole measures 6(6-6 1/2-7-7 1/2)”, end on WS.

Inc Row (RS):  K1, M1k, work to end.  Continuing to work neck decs, rep inc row every RS row twice more.  When all shaping has been completed, work even on 16(19-22-24-26) sts until armhole measures 7 1/2(7 1/2-8-8 1/2-9)”, end on WS.  Bind off.

Right Front

Work to correspond to left front, reversing all shaping.  Work neck decs at beg of RS rows as k2, k2 tog.  Bind off for armhole on WS row.  Work armhole decs at end of RS rows as SSK, k2.  Work armhole incs at end of RS rows as M1k, k1. 

Sleeves

With straight needles, cast on 42 sts. Work even in St st for 1”, end on WS.  Inc 1 st each end of next row, then every 2¼(1¾-1½-1-1)” 7(9-11-14-16) times more – 58(62-66-72-76) sts.  Work even until sleeve measures 18” from beg, end on WS.

Shape Cap:  Bind off 3(4-5-6-8) sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 52(54-56-60-60) sts.

Dec Row (RS):  K2, KSP, k to last 4 sts, SSK, k2 – 50(52-54-58-58) sts.  Rep this dec every 4th row 3(2-3-4-6) times more, then every RS row 10(12-10-8-4) times, end on WS – 24(24-28-34-38) sts.  Bind off 3 sts at beg of the next 2 rows.  Bind off remaining 18(18-22-28-32) sts.

Finishing

Measure in 3 1/2(4-4 1/2-5-5 1/2)” from each side on bound-off edge of back and place markers.  Sew shoulder seams to markers leaving 6” open at center for back neck.

Collar:  With RS facing, using circular needle, beg at lower right front edge, pick up and k111(111-113-115-117) sts along right front edge, 45 sts across back neck edge, then 111(111-113-115-117) sts along left front edge to lower left edge – 267(267-271-275-279) sts.  Beg with a k row, work even in Reverse St st for 5”, end on WS.

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

Following Row:  P1, * k1, p1, rep from * across.  Rep these 2 rows once more, end on WS.  Bind off in ribbing.  Sew in sleeves.  Sew side and sleeve seams.