INSPIRED BY Japanese kimonos, this design by Jeanette Sloan looks like a wrap-around cardigan, but the edges of the left and right fronts are actually stitched in place to prevent them falling open. Jeanette has given her garment an unusual slip-stitch stripe pattern in plum shades. Contrasting panels of lace along the sleeves and back neck use a stitch pattern called Grand Eyelet Lattice. The garment has a lovely sheen, thanks to the luscious Alpaca Silk yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas.
SIZE AND YARN: look after the description
NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES
1 pair 3.5mm (UK 9-10/US 4) needles
1 set 3.25mm (UK 9/US 3) circular needles, 100cm long Stitch holders
TENSION
281/2 sts and 431/2 rows to 10 cm over Slip Stitch Stripe Pattern using 3.5 mm needles. 24 sts and 32 rows to 10 cm in st st using 3.5 mm needles. 28 sts and 35 rows to 10cm in Grand Eyelet Lattice pattern using 3.5mm needles.
SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS
RT (right twist): K2tog but do not slip sts from needle, knit into first st on LH needle, slip both sts from needle.
STITCH PATTERNS
SLIP STITCH STRIPE PATTERN
See chart.
GRAND EYELET LATTICE PATTERN
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2: *K2tog twice, yo twice, SSK twice; rep from *to end.
Row 3: *P2tog tbl, (P1, K1) 3 times into the double yo of previous row (dropping extra yo), P2tog; rep from * to end.
Row 4: K1, *K6, RT; rep from * to last 7 sts, K7.
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: K4, *K2tog twice, yo twice, SSK twice; rep from * to last 4 sts, K4.
Row 7: P4, *P2tog tbl, (P1, K1) 3 times into the double yo of previous row (dropping extra yo), P2tog; rep from * to last 4 sts, P4.
Row 8: K3, *RT, K6; rep from* to last 5 sts, RT, K3.
Rep these 8 rows for patt.
PATTERN NOTES
All sts are slipped purlwise with yarn to WS of work.
BACK
Using 3.25 mm needles and A, cast on 120 (132:144:156:168:180) sts.
Change to 3.5 mm needles. Work in Slip Stitch Stripe pattern for 22 rows, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE SIDES
Continue working in patt as est, dec 1 st at each end of next row, then every 18th row twice more. 114 (126:138:150:162:174) sts. Cont even in patt for 21 rows. Inc 1 st at each end of next row, then every 18th row twice more. 120 (132:144:156:168:180) sts. Work even in patt for 21 rows more.
SHAPE ARMHOLES
Cast off 4 (5:6:7:8:9) sts at beg of next 2 rows, dec 1 st at each end of every row 3 (5:7:7:7:7) times, then every RS row 1 (1:3:5:6:7) times, then finally every 4th row 2 (2:2:2:3:3) times. 100 (106:108:114:120:128) sts. Work even in patt for 51 (53:51:53:53:55) rows.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Cast off 9 (9:11:12:12:12) sts at beg of next 2rows, 9 (9:10:10:11:12) sts at beg of next 2 rows, and 9 (9:9:9:10:11) sts at beg of foil 2rows. Cast off rem 46 (52:48:52:54:58) sts.
LEFT FRONT
Using 3.25 mm needles and A, cast on 120 (132:144:156:168:180) sts. Change to 3.5 mm needles. Work in Slip Stitch Stripe pattern for 22 rows, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE SIDES
Continue working in patt as est, dec 1 st at each end of next row, then every 18th row twice more. 114 (126:138:150:162:174) sts. Work even in patt for 3 rows.
SHAPE FRONT EDGE
Note: Read ahead; front edge and remaining side and armhole/shoulder shaping are worked at the same time. Front edge of Left Front is at the end of the RS row and beg of the WS row.
Dec 1 st at front edge every RS row 3 times, *dec 1 st at front edge every row 3 (3:3:4:4:4) times, then every alt row twice. Rep from * 9 (9:10:10:11:14) times more. Dec 1 st at front edge every row 2 (2:2:4:4:3) times, then every alt row4(2:2:2:2:0) times, every row 0 (4:4:0:0:0) times, every alt row 0 (2:2:0:0:0) times, every row 3 (3:3:3:3:0), every alt row 2 (2:2:2:2:0) times; rep from * 0 (1:1:0:0:0) time more, dec every alt row 0 (1:1:0:0:0) times more, then finally every 4th row 7 (7:7:5:3:l) times.
AT THE SAME TIME, shape side and armhole as follows:
Note: Side of Left Front is at beg of the RS row and end of the WS row. Work without side shaping for 18 rows. Inc 1 st at side edge of next row, then every 18th row twice more. Work without side shaping for 21 rows more.
SHAPE ARMHOLES
Cast off 4 (5:6:7:8:9) sts at side edge of next row. Work 1 WS row. Dec 1 st at armhole edge of every row 3 (5:7:7:7:7) times, then every RS row 1 (1:3:5:6:7) times, then finally every 4th row 2 (2:2:2:3:3) times. 27 (27:30:31:33:35) sts. Work without armhole shaping for 51 (53:51:53:53:55) rows.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Cast off 9 (9:11:12:12:12) sts at beg of next RS row, 9 (9:10:10:11:12) sts at beg of next RS row, and rem 9 (9:9:9:10:11) sts at beg of foll RS row.
RIGHT FRONT
Work as for Left Front, reversing all shaping (Front edge of Right Front is the beg of the RS row and end of the WS row).
LEFT SLEEVE
Using 3.5 mm needles and B, cast on 62 (66:68:72:74:76) sts and continue as follows:
Row 1 (WS): K2, P1, K16 (18:19:21:22:23), pm, work row 1 of Grand Eyelet Lattice pattern over next 24 sts, pm, knit to last 3 sts, P1, K2.
Row 2 (RS): P2, Sl 1, purl to marker, slm, work Grand Eyelet Lattice pattern to mrk, slm, purl to last 3 sts, Sl 1, P2. These 2 rows set the pattern. Work 8 more rows in patt.
Begin increases:
Inc row (WS): K2, P1, M1, patt to last 3 sts, M1, P1, K2. Repine row every 11 (10:8:6:6:4) rows 6 (7:10:13:13:17) times more, working increases into reverse st st pattern. 76 (82:90:100:102:112) sts.
Work 15 (11:5:3:5:15) rows even in patt.
SHAPE SLEEVEHEAD
Next row (WS): Cast off 4 (5:6:7:8:9) sts at beg of row (leaving 1 st on RH needle), K1, P1, knit to mrk, slm, patt to next mrk, slm, knit to last 8 sts, P1, K4, P1, K2.
Next row (RS): Cast off 4 (5:6:7:8:9) sts at beg of row (leaving 1 st on RH needle), P1, Sl 1, purl to mrk, slm, patt to next marker, slm, purl to last 3 sts, Sl 1, P2. These 2 rows set the stitch pattern, with reverse st st and slipped sts at each edge. 68 (72:78:86:86:94) sts
Decrease row (WS): K2, P1, K2tog, patt to last 5 sts, SSK, P1, K2.2 sts dec’d. Rep Decrease row every alt row 3 (4:6:6:6:8) times, then every 4th row 2 (2:2:3:3:3) times, then every 6th row twice, then every alt row 4 (3:4:3:5:5) times, then every row4 (4:6:8:6:8) times. 36 (40:36:40:40:40) sts. Work 1 row even in patt.
Next row (WS): SSK, P1, (SSSK) 0 (1:0:1:1:1) time, knit to 2 sts before mrk, SSK, remove mrk, patt 24 sts, remove mrk, K2tog, knit to last 3 (6:6:6:6:6) sts, (K3tog) 0 (1:0:1:1:1) time, P1, K2tog. 32 sts. ***
BEGIN SADDLE
Work 29 (29:33:33:37:39) rows in patt. You will end on row 4 of Grand Eyelet Lattice patt.
Next row (WS): Cast off 16 sts loosely (leaving 1 st on RH needle) for neck edge, purl to last 4 sts, K2, P1, K1.
LEFT BACK NECK SADDLE
Row 1 (RS): P1, Sl 1, P2, K4, K2tog twice,yo twice, SSK, K1, P1. 15 sts.
Row 2: K1, P2, (P1, K1) twice into double yo of previous row (dropping extra yo), P2tog, P4, K2, P1, K1. 16 sts.
Row 3: P1, Sl 1, P2, K3, RT, K6, P1. 16 sts.
Row 4: K1, purl to last 4 sts, K2, P1, K1. 16 sts.
Row 5: P1, Sl 1, P2, K2tog twice, yo twice, SSK twice, K3, P1. 14 sts.
Row 6: K1, P3, P2tog tbl, (P1, K1) 3 times into double yo of previous row (dropping extra yo), P2tog, K2, P1, K1. 16 sts.
Row 7: P1, Sl 1, P2, K7, RT, K2, P1. 16 sts.
Row 8: K1, purl to last 4 sts, K2, P1, K1. 16 sts. Rep last 8 rows 2 (2:2:2:2:3) times more, then rep first 2 (4:4:4:6:0) rows of patt once more. Leave rem sts on waste yarn for joining later.
RIGHT SLEEVE
Work as for Left Sleeve to ***. Work 28 (28:32:32:36:38) rows in patt. You will end on Row 3 of Grand Eyelet Lattice patt.
Next row (RS): Cast off 16 sts loosely (leaving 1 st on RH needle) for neck edge, K2, RT, K7, P2, Sl 1, P1. Pm in last st. 16 sts.
RIGHT BACK NECK SADDLE
Row 1 (WS): K1, P1, K2, purl to last st, K1.
Row 2 (RS): P1, K1, K2tog, yo twice, SSK twice, K4, P2, Sl 1, P1. 15 sts.
Row 3: K1, P1, K2, P4, P2tog tbl, (P1, K1) twice, P2, K1. 16 sts.
Row 4: P1, K6, RT, K3, P2, Sl 1, P1. 16 sts.
Row 5: K1, P1, K2, purl to last st, K1. 16 sts.
Row 6: P1, K3, K2tog twice, yo twice, SSK twice, P2, Sl 1, P1. 14 sts.
Row 7: K1, P1, K2, P2tog tbl, (P1, K1) 3 times into double yo of previous row (dropping extra yo), P2tog, P3, K1. 16 sts.
Row 8: P1, K2, RT, K7, P2, Sl 1, P1. 16 sts.
Row 9 (WS): K1, P1, K2, purl to last st, K1. 16 sts. Rep last 8 rows twice more, then rep first 1 (3:3:3:5:7) rows ofpattonce more. Leave rem sts on waste yarn for joining later.
MAKING UP
Block pieces to measurements. With right sides facing each other, join held sts of sleeves together using a three-needle cast-off. Starting at centre of back neck, pin saddles in place to back neck edges, across shoulders, and down sleeveheads. Repeat for Front, matching cast off edges of saddle to front neck edges of Left and Right Front. Sew sleeveheads and saddles in place. Join sleeve seams.
NECKEDGING
With RS facing, 3.25 mm circular needles and A, pick up and knit 108 (112:115:121:125:130) sts up front edge of Right Front to shoulder seam, 16 sts from right saddle cast off, pm, 44 (50:46:50:52:56) sts across back neck, 16 sts from left saddle cast off, then 108 (112:115:121:125:130) sts down front edge of Left Front. 292 (306:308:324:334:348) sts.
Row 1: K2tog, *knit to 1 st before mrk, slip next st to RH needle, remove mrk, pass st back to LH needle then K3tog, replace marker; rep from * once more, knit to last 2 sts, K2tog. 6 sts dec’d. Rep last row once more. Cast off all sts knit-wise.
With the RS facing outwards lay the Right Front on top of Left Front and pin in place at sides. Turn the garment inside out and sew side seams, sewing through all three layers of fabric where necessary to secure.
Block again, if desired. Weave in all ends
