Clove stitch and lace meet beautifully in Sassafras, a versatile cropped cardigan.

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) – 32(36-40-44-48-52)”

Length – 18½(19-20-20-21-21½)”

Materials

5(6-7-7-8-9) Hanks Berroco Vintage (100 grs), #51180 Grapefruit

29” Length circular knitting needle, size 7 (4.50 mm) OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Straight knitting needles, size 7 (4.50 mm)

16” Length circular knitting needle, size 5 (3.50 mm)

Crochet hook, size 4.50 mm (G)

Five 1” buttons

2 St markers

Gauge

20 sts = 4”; 26 rows = 4” in Lotus Pat on larger needles

24 sts = 4”; 26 rows = 4” in Clove Pat on larger needles

TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE

Note

Body of this garment is worked in one piece to the underarms, then divided for back and fronts.

Stitch Glossary

Sl 2, p1, p2sso

Turn work slightly and, with yarn in front and RH needle at back of work, insert point of RH needle from left to right through the 2nd st, then the 1st st and sl these 2 sts as if to p2 tog TBL; p the next st, then insert point of LH needle through the 2 slipped sts and draw them together over the purled st – dec 2

Sl 2, k1, p2sso

Insert point of RH needle through the next 2 sts as if to k2 tog and sl them onto RH needle; k the next st, then insert point of LH needle through the 2 slipped sts and draw them together over the knit st – dec 2

Lotus Pattern (Multiple of 10 sts + 1)

Row 1 (WS):  P1, * yo, p3, sl 2, p1, p2sso, p3, yo, p1, rep from * across.

Row 2 (RS):  K2, * yo, k2, sl 2, k1, p2sso, k2, yo, k3, rep from * across, end k2 instead of k3.

Row 3:  P3, * yo, p1, sl 2, p1, p2sso, p1, yo, p5, rep from * across, end p3 instead of p5.

Row 4:  K4, * yo, sl 2, k1, p2sso, yo, k7, rep from * across, end k4 instead of k7.

Row 5:  P2, * k2, p3, rep from * across, end p2 instead of p3.

Row 6:  K1, * yo, SSK, p1, yo, sl 2, k1, p2sso, yo, p1, k2 tog, yo, k1, rep from * across.

Row 7:  P3, * k1, p3, k1, p5, rep from * across, end p3 instead of p5.

Row 8:  K2, * yo, SSK, yo, sl 2, k1, p2sso, yo, k2 tog, yo, k3, rep from * across, end k2 instead of k3.

Row 9:  P2, * k1, p5, k1, p3, rep from * across, end p2 instead of p3.

Row 10:  K2, * p1, k1, yo, sl 2, k1, p2sso, yo, k1, p1, k3, rep from * across, end k2 instead of k3.

Row 11:  Rep Row 9.

Rows 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18:  Knit.

Rep these 18 rows for Lotus Pat.

Clove Stitch (Multiple of 4 sts)

Row 1 (WS):  * (K1, yo, k1) in next st, p3 tog, rep from * across.

Row 2 (RS):  * P1, k3, rep from * across.

Row 3:  * P3 tog, (k1, yo, k1) in next st, rep from * across.

Row 4:  * K3, p1, rep from * across.

Rep these 4 rows for Clove St.

Note:  When increasing or decreasing over Clove St, do not add or work repeat until there are 4 sts plus the edge st.  Work all non-pattern sts in St st.  This means that up to 4 sts will be worked in St st at the neck edge while decs are being made  and on the sleeves while incs are being made.  Do not work the selvage sts (1 st in St st at each edge) in Pat St.

Body

With longer circular needle, cast on 163(183-203-223-243-263) sts.  Keeping 1 st at each edge in St st (selvage sts), work even in Lotus Pat until 35 rows (1 repeat plus 17 rows) have been completed, end on WS.

Inc Row (RS):  K40(45-50-55-60-65), inc 5(6-7-8-9-10) sts across, place marker (this is right front); k83(93-103-113-123-133), inc 13(15-17-19-21-23) sts across, place marker (this is back); k40(45-50-55-60-65), inc 5(6-7-8-9-10) sts across (this is left front) – 186(210-234-258-282-306) sts.  Continuing to work 1 selvage st each end, work remaining sts in Clove St.  Work even until piece measures 11(11-11½-11½-12-12)” from beg, end on WS.

Divide for Back and Fronts:  Next Row (RS):  With straight needles, work to first marker, drop marker, then turn, leaving remaining sts on circular needle for back and left front – 45(51-57-63-69-75) sts.

Right Front:  Bind off 4(6-4-6-4-6) sts at beg of the next row (armhole edge), work to end – 41(45-53-57-65-69) sts.  Bind off 4 sts at neck edge 3 times, then dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 12 times.  AT THE SAME TIME, bind off 4 sts at armhole edge 1(2-3-4-5-6) times, then bind off 3 sts once.  When all bind-offs and decs have been completed, work even on 10(10-14-14-18-18) sts (this is a multiple of 4 sts plus 1 selvage st at each side) until armhole measures 7½(8-8½-8½-9-9½)”, end on WS.  Bind off.

Back:  With RS facing, join yarn in first st on circular needle; with straight needle, bind off 4(6-4-6-4-6) sts, work to last marker, drop marker and turn, leaving remaining sts on circular needle for left front – 92(102-116-126-140-150) sts.

Next Row (WS):  Bind off 4(6-4-6-4-6) sts, work to end – 88(96-102-120-136-144) sts.  Bind off 4 sts at each armhole edge 1(2-3-4-5-6) times, then bind off 3 sts once – 74(74-82-82-90-90) sts.  (This leaves you with a multiple of 4 sts plus 1 selvage st on each side.)  Work even until armholes measure 7½(8-8½-8½-9-9½)”, end on WS.  Bind off.  Mark center 54 sts for back neck.

Left Front:  With RS facing, join yarn in first st on circular needle; with straight needle, bind off 4(6-4-6-4-6) sts, work to end – 41(45-53-57-65-69) sts.  Complete to correspond to right front, reversing all shaping.

Sleeves

With straight needles, cast on 50 sts (multiple of 4 sts plus 1 selvage st on each side).  Work in Clove Pat, inc 1 st each side every 1¼(1¼-¾-¾-½-½)” 12(14-18-20-24-26) times (remember not to add 1 repeat of pat each side until 4 sts have been added at each edge) – 74(78-86-90-98-102) sts.  Work even until sleeve measures 18” from beg, end on WS.

Shape Cap:  Bind off 4 sts at beg of the next 4 rows – 58(62-70-74-82-86) sts.  Work even for 10(12-12-14-14-16) rows, end on WS.  Bind off 4 sts at beg of the next 8 rows.  Bind off remaining 26(30-38-42-50-54) sts.

Finishing

Sew shoulder seams.  Sew sleeve seams.  Set in sleeves.

Left Button Band:  With RS facing, using straight needles, beg at neck edge, pick up and k49(51-55-55-59-61) sts along left front edge.  Knit 5 rows.  Bind off.

Right Buttonhole Band:  Beg at lower edge, work same as left button band for 1 row, end on WS.

Buttonhole Row (RS):  K4(5-5-5-5-4), k2 tog, yo, * k8(8-9-9-10-11), k2 tog, yo, rep from * 3 times more, k to end.  Knit 3 rows.  Bind off.

Neck Edging:  With RS facing, using crochet hook, join yarn at outer edge of right buttonhole band, work in sc around entire neck edge to outer edge of left button band.  Turn.

Row 2:  Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), skip 1 sc, * dc in next sc, ch 1, skip 1 sc, rep from * across, end dc in last sc.  Turn.

Row 3:  Ch 1, work 1 sc in each dc and ch-1 sp across.  Fasten off.

Twisted Cord:  Cut two 290” long strands of yarn.  Put strands together and fold in half.  Tie ends in a knot.  Holding the knot in your hand, slip the loop over a hook and pull tight.  Slip a pencil through the knotted end and twist until cord is so tight that it can’t be twisted further and starts to double back on itself.  Put 1 finger in center of cord and carefully fold in half, letting the 2 ends of cord twist together.  Knot both ends, leaving 1” free for tassels.  Beg and end at front, weave cord in and out of Row 2 of neck edging.