A touch of plaid decorates this open front cardigan, with long contrasting lines intersecting on the generous reversible collar. The plaid is created using simple techniques, in which the vertical lines are knit as contrasting stripes, while the horizontal lines are first worked as a purl column in the main color, then the contrast color is applied to the surface later using a crochet hook.
Construction: Walnut Street is cast on at the back neck and worked to the armscye depth with a few short rows to shape the shoulders. The back is put on hold while stitches are picked up for each front, and worked separately with a bit of short row shaping to the armscye depth. Back and front are united and worked with gentle waist shaping to the hem. Sleeves are picked up around the armholes and the caps shaped with short rows, then worked seamlessly to the cuffs. Stitches are picked up along the entire front edge and neck, then the reversible collar is worked with contrast horizontal stripes and the long vertical stripe is applied last as surface crochet in the purl columns. No crochet skills are needed; it’s as simple as picking up stitches!
Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, backwards loop CO, knit/purl, German short rows, picking up stitches, increasing/decreasing.
Size: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56)”; sample shown in fourth size worn with 3” positive ease.
Yarn: Dream In Color Classy (100% superwash merino wool; 250 yards/229m/113g), shown in MC 17 Torchwood and CC 611 Blue Sulk; 5 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8) skeins MC and 1 skein CC, or approximately 1150 (1200, 1250, 1300, 1375, 1450, 1525, 1600, 1675, 1775) yards MC and 60 (60, 60, 60, 60, 60, 65, 65, 65, 65) yards CC worsted weight wool yarn.
Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 32” circular needle or size to match gauge; US 8 (5mm) 60” circular needle for collar; Stitch markers (2); Removable stitch markers (2); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle; H8 (5mm) crochet hook for plaid collar contrast.
Gauge: 18 st and 24 rows/4” in Stockinette stitch, after blocking.
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