A classic cardigan with a smooth double knit button band
Skill Level: Advanced Intermediate
SIZING
The pattern is designed to have 3 inches of positive ease. Select a size based on your actual bust width plus the 3 inches of positive ease, totaling the bust width in (A).
(A) Bust Width:
32 (36.5, 40, 44, 48) (52, 56.5, 60.5, 64) inches or 81 (93, 102, 112, 122) (132, 144, 154, 163) cm
(B) Sleeve Length:
19.5 (20.5, 20.5, 21.5, 21.5) (21.5, 21.5, 22.5, 22.5) inches or 50 (52, 52, 55, 55) (55, 55, 57, 57) cm
(C) Total Length:
23 (23, 23, 23, 23) (23, 23, 23, 23) inches or 58 (58, 58, 58, 58) (58, 58, 58, 58) cm
(D) Yoke Length:
6.5 (7, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5) (10.5, 11.5, 12.5, 13) inches or 17 (18, 19, 22, 24) (27, 29, 32, 33) cm
(E) Waist Length:
16.5 (16, 15.5, 14.5, 13.5) (12.5, 11.5, 11, 10) inches or 42 (41, 39, 37, 34) (32, 29, 28, 25) cm
(F) Upper Sleeve Width:
12.5 (13.5, 14, 15, 16.5) (18.5, 20, 21.5, 22.5) inches or 32 (34, 36, 38, 42) (47, 51, 55, 57) cm
GAUGE
21 sts x 28 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on larger needles with two listed yarns held together
NOTIONS
Stitch markers
Scrap yarn
5, ½ inch (1.27 cm) buttons
SUGGESTED NEEDLES
Size 4 (US), 3.5 mm circular needles
Size 4 (US), 3.5 mm double pointed needles or small circular needles
Size 3 (US), 3.25 mm circular needles
Size 3 (US), 3.25 mm double pointed needles or small circular needles
SUGGESTED YARN
7 (8, 8, 9, 10) (11, 12, 13, 13) skeins Hobbii Alpaca Silk in Pearl Beach, or 1154 (1303, 1435, 1585, 1724) (1882, 2021, 2178, 2314) yards or 1055 (1192, 1312, 1449, 1576) (1721, 1848, 1992, 2116) meters of fingering weight yarn
3 (3, 4, 4, 4) (5, 5, 5, 6) skeins Hobbii Soft Alpaca Lace in Beach Pebbles, or 1154 (1303, 1435, 1585, 1724) (1882, 2021, 2178, 2314) yards or 1055 (1192, 1312, 1449, 1576) (1721, 1848, 1992, 2116) meters of fingering weight yarn
If you would like to use one strand of yarn, instead of two strands held together, select a heavy fingering or sport weight yarn that achieves gauge and uses the same yardage as the Hobbii Alpaca Silk yarn listed above.
STITCH ABBREVIATIONS
BO – bind off
BOR – beginning of round
CO – cast on
K – knit
K2tog – knit two stitches together (decrease) K2togtbl – knit two stitches together through the back loop (decrease)
Ktbl – knit through the back loop
M1L – pick up the bar between the stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from front to back, and knit into the back of the stitch (increase)
M1R – pick up the bar between the last stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from the back to the front, and knit into the front of the stitch (increase)
P – purl
PM – place marker
Ptbl – purl through the back loop
R(d) – row (round)
RS – right side
Sl – slip the next stitch purlwise with the yarn held in the front
SM – slip marker
SSK – slip unworked stitch from left needle to right needle knitwise. Slip a second unworked stitch from the left needle to the right needle knitwise. Slip those two unworked stitches separately back to the left needle purlwise. Knit those two stitches together in the back of the stitches (decrease).
St(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side
Wyif – with the yarn in the front of your work
Pattern Notes
This raglan sweater is worked flat with the two listed yarns held together throughout, and from the top down. You first work the yoke, which includes a front and a back body panel and the beginning of two sleeve panels. When your yoke is long enough to reach your armpits, you separate the sleeve panels from the body panels, holding the sleeve stitches on scrap yarn and joining the body panels to finish the body of the sweater down to the waist. When you finish the body, you work each sleeve individually. You finish by picking up stitches along the entire collar and button band length to work a double knit button band.
Stitch counts and round counts are indicated for each size based on the following size order: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). It is recommended that you highlight the stitch and round counts for your size before beginning to knit.
Stitches that appear between * and * should be worked until the end, unless otherwise indicated.
It is recommended you check your gauge on both the circular needles and double pointed needles (or small circular needles) to ensure your tension is the same. Adjust your needle size as necessary to obtain gauge.
INSTRUCTIONS
Collar Cast On:
With larger needles, CO 78 (82, 85, 88, 88) (96, 96, 97, 97) sts.
(Set up Row): P8 (8, 8, 8, 8) (8, 8, 8, 8), PM, P16 (16, 16, 16, 16) (20, 20, 20, 20), PM, P30 (34, 37, 40, 40) (40, 40, 41, 41), PM, P16 (16, 16, 16, 16) (20, 20, 20, 20), PM, P8 (8, 8, 8, 8) (8, 8, 8, 8).
Yoke Increases:
For Sizes 2XL (3XL, 4XL, 5XL) ONLY:
R1: K1, M1L, K to 2 sts before marker, M1R, K1, M1R, K1, SM, K1, M1L, K to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM, K1, M1L, K1, M1L, K to 2 sts before marker, M1R, K1, M1R, K1, SM, K1, M1L, K to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM, K1, M1L, K1, M1L until last st, M1R, K1. (14 sts increased).
R2: P across
Repeat R1-2 an additional – (-, -, -, 0) (1, 2, 3, 4) times for a total of – (-, -, -, 1) (2, 3, 4, 5) repeats. You will now have – (-, -, -, 102) (124, 138, 153, 167) sts distributed as follows:
Right Front Panel: – (-, -, -, 11) (14, 17, 20, 23) sts
Sleeve A: – (-, -, -, 18) (24, 26, 28, 30) sts
Back Panel: – (-, -, -, 44) (48, 52, 57, 61) sts
Sleeve B: – (-, -, -, 18) (24, 26, 28, 30) sts
Left Front Panel: – (-, -, -, 11) (14, 17, 20, 23) sts
For Sizes ALL SIZES:
R3: K1, M1L, K to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM, *K1, M1L, K to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM* until last marker, K1, M1L, until last st, M1R, K1. (10 sts increased).
R4: P across
Repeat R3-4 an additional 10 (16, 19, 23, 24) (24, 24, 25, 25) times for a total of 11 (17, 20, 24, 25) (25, 25, 26, 26) repeats. You will now have 188 (252, 285, 328, 352) (374, 388, 413, 427) sts distributed as follows:
Right Front Panel: 30 (42, 48, 56, 61) (64, 67, 72, 75) sts
Sleeve A: 38 (50, 56, 64, 68) (74, 76, 80, 82) sts
Back Panel: 52 (68, 77, 88, 94) (98, 102, 109, 113) sts
Sleeve B: 38 (50, 56, 64, 68) (74, 76, 80, 82) sts
Left Front Panel: 30 (42, 48, 56, 61) (64, 67, 72, 75) sts
R5: K to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM, *K1, M1L, K to 1 st before marker, M1R, K1, SM* until last marker, K1, M1L, K until end. (8 sts increased).
R6: Sl 2, P across to last 2 sts, sl 2.
Repeat R5-6 an additional 11 (7, 6, 5, 6) (9, 11, 12, 14) times for a total of 12 (8, 7, 6, 7) (10, 12, 13, 15) repeats. You will now have 284 (316, 341, 376, 408) (454, 484, 517, 547) sts distributed as follows:
Right Front Panel: 42 (50, 55, 62, 68) (74, 79, 85, 90) sts
Sleeve A: 62 (66, 70, 76, 82) (94, 100, 106, 112) sts
Back Panel: 76 (84, 91, 100, 108) (118, 126, 135, 143) sts
Sleeve B: 62 (66, 70, 76, 82) (94, 100, 106, 112) sts
Left Front Panel: 42 (50, 55, 62, 68) (74, 79, 85, 90) sts
Try on your piece. The length should fall just below your armpits, where you can comfortably pinch together either side of a sleeve panel under your arms. If it is too short, work in stockinette until you reach your desired length.
Separate Sleeve and Body Sections:
R7: K across 42 (50, 55, 62, 68) (74, 79, 85, 90) sts, remove marker, place 62 (66, 70, 76, 82) (94, 100, 106, 112) sts onto scrap yarn, remove marker, CO 4 (4, 4, 4, 4) (4, 6, 6, 6) sts, K across 76 (84, 91, 100, 108) (118, 126, 135, 143) sts, remove marker, place 62 (66, 70, 76, 82) (94, 100, 106, 112) sts onto scrap yarn, remove marker, CO 4 (4, 4, 4, 4) (4, 6, 6, 6) sts, K across 42 (50, 55, 62, 68) (74, 79, 85, 90) sts. You will now have 168 (192, 209, 232, 252) (274, 296, 317, 335) sts on your needles, not counting the sleeve sts on the scrap yarn.
Body:
R8: P across
R9: K across
Repeat R8-9 a total of 49 (47, 45, 42, 39) (35, 32, 29, 26) times, or until you reach 2 inches less than your desired length. Work one last R8. For sizes XS, S, L, XL, 2XL, and 3XL, work one P2tog on the last row so you have an odd number of stitches.
Switch to the smaller needles.
R10: *K1tbl, P1* until last st, K1tbl.
R11: *P1tbl, K1* until last st, P1tbl.
Repeat R10-11 for a total of 9 repeats. Bind off in ribbing. Cut yarn.
Sleeves:
(Set up Round): Remove 62 (66, 70, 76, 82) (94, 100, 106, 112) sts from scrap yarn and distribute evenly along double pointed needles or small circular needles. Find the bottom of the armpit (where you cast on sts at the sleeve separation), and pick up 4 (4, 4, 4, 4) (4, 6, 6, 6) sts. PM in the middle of the picked up sts at the bottom of the armpit to mark the BOR. Begin using the larger needles.
Rds 1-8 (6, 6, 5, 4) (3, 3, 3, 2): K across
Rd 9 (7, 7, 6, 5) (4, 4, 4, 3): K1, K2tog, K until 3 sts before end, SSK, K1
Repeat Rds 1-9 (7, 7, 6, 5) (4, 4, 4, 3) an additional 11 (13, 15, 18, 20) (26, 30, 31, 34). You will now have 42 (42, 42, 42, 44) (44, 44, 48, 48) sts.
Repeat Rd1 for 12 (28, 14, 18, 27) (24, 8, 10, 33) repeats, or until you reach 2 inches less than your desired length.
Switch to the smaller needles.
R10-27: *K1tbl, P1*
Bind off in ribbing. Cut yarn. Repeat for second sleeve.
Buttonband:
With the RS facing, using the smaller circular needle and beginning at the bottom left edge of the sweater and working up the left side first (left side as if you are wearing the sweater), pick up and knit 279 (283, 285, 289, 289) (297, 297, 297, 297) sts along the button band edge of the sweater. You should pick up approximately 2 sts per 3 rows, and each CO stitch near the collar.
Using the cable cast on method, CO 8 sts to the left needle. You will work the double knit button band across this section of sts and will pick up 1 st from the remaining 279 (283, 285, 289, 289) (297, 297, 297, 297) on each Double Knit R3 below and join it with a k2togtbl.
Double Knit R1: (set up row) *K1, CO 1 st onto right needle tip using backwards loop cast on method*x7, k2togtbl, turn.
Double Knit R2: (WS) *s1wyif, k1* to last st, s1wyif.
Double Knit R3: (RS) *k1, s1wyif*x7, k2togtbl, turn.
Repeat Double Knit R2-3 an additional two times.
Buttonholes:
Double Knit R4: (WS) *s1wyif, k1* to last st, s1wyif.
Double Knit R5: (RS) *k1, s1wyif*x4, turn (leave remaining button band sts unworked)
Repeat Double Knit R4-5 an additional two times. Cut yarn. Hold these button band sts aside. Begin working on the remaining button band sts you left unworked after Double Knit R5. Join yarn with the RS facing.
Double Knit R6: (RS) *k1, s1wyif*x3, k2togtbl, turn.
Double Knit R7: (WS) *s1wyif, k1*x3, s1wyif.
Repeat Double Knit R6-7 an additional two times. On the last Double Knit R7, work across all sts in the button band to close the buttonhole.
Repeat Double Knit R2-3 eight times. Repeat the buttonhole instructions for Double Knit R4-7 and corresponding repeats. Work for 4 additional buttonholes. Repeat Double Knit R2-3 until you have worked all button band sts. When you have 16 sts remaining (which includes 8 CO sts and their paired double knit stitch), BO all sts, treating the two paired double knit stitches as one for bind off purposes.
Weave in ends using a tapestry needle. Attach the buttons to the button band. Block your garment.
THANK YOU!
I hope you enjoyed making the Basics Cardigan as much as I did! Tag me on Instagram @knitabitcrochetaway and use #knitabitcrochetaway and #BasicsCardigan – I’d love to see your progress and finished product!