Cates simple cardiagn

Ok…this is a really simple cardigan that’s knit top down in one piece. Then you separate the work for the sleeves.

There is some knitting in the round involved for the sleeves, but don’t be scared!…it’s more simple than you think…be brave and go for it!
It has one button at the top or you can leave it with none if you prefer, just leave out the buttonhole.

I suggest you use circulars for the cardigan, even though you knit back and forth just like straight needles. The circulars just give you more length to hold the sts

Size…this is a difficult one. I’ve made this for me…but tried to work out a few more sizes based on mine, but they are approximate. Bear in mind this is very open at the front so very flexible! My apologies in advance if it doesn’t work!

Chest size approximately 34 (38, 42, 46) inches.

Things you’ll need –
5mm circular needle
5mm double pointed needles (dpn) for sleeves, or short circulars, or two circulars, whichever you prefer
Aran yarn – 440, 480, 520, 560 yards – these are only approximate again. I’ve tried to go from what I used, King Cole Big Value Aran, which has 258 yds/236 metres per 100g
4 Stitch markers
Scrap yarn
Tapestry needle
A nice button!

As always, these are the abbreviations I’ve used
CO – cast on
K – knit St – stitch
P – purl
KFB – knit into front and then the back of the next st. garter stitch – knit every row

PM – place marker on the needle AFTER the last stitch you’ve worked
SM – slip marker, literally just slip the marker from the left needle onto the right needle
BO – bind off/cast off
Stocking stitch/stockinette stitch – knit one row, purl one row

Make buttonhole – knit to last 5 sts in the row, BO 3 sts, on the next row, k2, CO 3, then continue knitting to the end of the row
So, let’s start

CO 80 (80, 88, 88) sts, do not join!

Rows 1-6. Work 6 rows in garter st.

Row 7. Knit to the last 7 sts, make buttonhole (see above), k3.

Rows 8-11. Work 4 rows in garter st.

Row 12. K15 (15, 16, 16) PM, K10 (10, 12, 12), PM, K30 (30, 32, 32), PM, K10 (10, 12, 12), PM, K15 (15, 16, 16).

Row 13. (K to 2 sts before the marker, KFB, K1, slip marker, KFB) rep 3 times, K to the end of row.

Row 14. K7, P to the last 7 sts, K7
Repeat rows 13&14 – 14 (18, 22, 26) more times, (you should have 200, 232, 272, 304 sts) OR until sleeves almost meet at the underarm.
This is a good time to try the cardigan on for fit! If you find it’s a bit short yet, then carry on until you feel more comfortable.

Hint! to see how it fits at this point, take a long piece of yarn and thread it through the stitches, taking them off the needle. (Looks scary but trust me it works! Just make sure it’s a long piece of yarn!) try it around you arm to see how it is. Then put it back on the needles, remove the yarn and continue.
You can do this as many times as you want, I often try it about an inch after removing the sleeve sts, helps me see how it’s going…and I often do it again to see how long it is, and if I need to make it any longer.

When it’s the size given, or the size you want!..
Work another inch in st st with no more shaping, not forgetting the 7 sts each side in garter st, ending with a purl row.

Now we’re going to separate the body from the sleeves!

For the right front, K to the marker, remove the marker. Now, slip the next sts up to the next marker onto scrap yarn for the first sleeve.

Remove the marker.

Cast on 8 sts on right-hand needle, K the next sts up to the next marker for the back.

Remove the marker.

Slip the next sts to the next marker onto scrap yarn for the second sleeve.

Remove the marker.

Cast on 8 sts on right-hand needle, K to the end of the row for the left front.

Continue working in st st, not forgetting the 7 sts in garter stitch on each side until body measure 8.5 (9.5, 10.5, 11.5) inches from underarm, or as long as you’d like it to be.

K 12 rows in garter sts, then BO.

Now for the sleeves.
With the knit side facing you, pick up and knit the sleeve sts from scrap yarn, then, pick up and knit the 8 cast-on sts under the arm, PM, then join to work in the round.

Knit around for 1-2 inches or until the sleeve is around 1.5 inches shorter than you want it to be.

Take note how many rows you do so that you can make the other sleeve the same length

Work 6 rows in garter sts – to work garter st in the round, it’s effectively like doing st st when working flat…purl one row, knit one row! So, in this instance, start with a purl row for the garter stitch section, ending with a knit row!

BO.
To finish off, weave in any ends, sew on a button and enjoy. any questions…just shout!