This is about as close as I get to knitting the same thing twice. There were a couple of things I wanted to change after my first cardigan. First, it was a little smaller than I’d like. I even had to stretch out the back a little while I was blocking. And second, it looked a little unfinished. I was running out of yarn fast which meant not only did the sleeves not match the body, but I barely had enough to finish the ribbing, so I just left a raw bind off edge, rather than sewing the ends where a lining would be.

I’m surprised how much more substantial this version feels with just a couple of changes.

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Take Two Cardigan

Size: S/M

Finished Dimensions:

Width (lying flat): 20″

Length: 21″

Materials:

Needles: US size 6 and US size 8

Yarn:

MC – Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in Red, 3 skeins (600 yards, 10.58 ounces)

CC1 – Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in Pink, 2 skeins (400 yards, 7.05 ounces)

CC2 – Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in White, 1 skein (200 yards, 3.53 ounces)

CC3 – Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in Gray, 1 skein (200 yards, 3.53 ounces)

CC4 – Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in Green, 1 skein (200 yards, 3.53 ounces)

CC5 – Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in Blue, 1 skein (200 yards, 3.53 ounces)

Buttons: 3/4″, 3

Gauge:

21 stitches and 25 rows = 4″ in ST (size 8 needles)

Abbreviations:

CO – Cast on

WS – Wrong side

SSK – Slip, slip, knit

Kf&b – Knit front and back

BO – Bind off

Fair Isle Pattern

Body

CO 198 in MC with size 6 needles

K in 1×1 rib for 2″, ending on WS row. Increase 11 stitches evenly across last row. Switch to size 8 needles.

Knit in fair isle pattern for 12.5″

Front (Right)

Row 1: SSK, k46, k2tog, place remaining stitches on stitch holder.

Row 2: Purl, continuing in pattern

Row 3: SSK, k to last 2 continuing in pattern, k2tog

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until 22 stitches remain, ending on WS row.

Rows 29-44: Continue in pattern

BO

Back

Pick up 109 stitches from stitch holder

Row 1: SSK, k to last 2 continuing in pattern, k2tog

Row 2: Purl, continuing in pattern

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 81 stitches remain

Rows 29-34: Continue in pattern

Row 35: K35, BO11, k to end. Place stitches to right of BO on stitch holder.

Row 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44: P to last 2 continuing in pattern, p2tog

Row 37: BO3, k to end continuing in pattern

Rows 39, 41, and 43: SSK, k to end continuing in pattern

BO

Pick up 35 stitches from stitch holder

Rows 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44: K to last 2 continuing in pattern, k2tog

Row 37: BO3 p-wise, p to end in pattern

Rows 39, 41, and 43: K to last 2 continuing in pattern, p to end

BO p-wise

Front (Left)

Row 1: SSK, k to last 2 continuing in pattern, k2tog

Row 2: Purl, continuing in pattern

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 22 stitches remain

Rows 29-44: K in pattern

BO

Sleeves

CO 55 in MC with size 6 needles

K in 1×1 rib for 4″. Switch to size 8 needles. Knit in fair isle pattern, increasing 1 stitch on either side every inch. Continue in fair isle pattern until sleeve measures 18″. 81 stitches in play. End on WS row.

Row 1: SSK, k to last 2 continuing in pattern, K2tog

Row 2: Purl continuing in pattern

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 39 stitches remain. BO

Ribbing

Stitch shoulders together at BO edges

Row 1: Pick up and knit 306

Rows 2-6 K in 1×1 rib

Rows 7 and 19: K12 in 1×1 rib, BO4, k24 in 1×1 rib, BO4, k24 in 1×1 rib, BO4, k to end in 1×1 rib

Rows 8 and 20: K to first BO in 1×1 rib, CO4, K24 in 1×1 rib, CO4, K24 in 1×1 rib, CO4, k to end in 1×1 rib

Rows 9-18 and 21-26: K in 1×1 rib

BO

Sew end of ribbed edge to underside of picked up stitches. Stitch around buttonholes, sewing folded edge together.

Pockets

CO 25 in MC with size 8 needle

Rows 1, 3: K1, p1, Kf&b, continue in rib to last 3, Kf&b, p1, k1

Rows 2, 6, 7, and 8: K in rib

Rows 4 and 10: P1, k2, continue in rib to last 5, k2, p1, k1, p1

Row 5 and 11: K1, p1, Kf&b, continue in rib to last 4, Kf&b, k1, p1, k1

Row 9: K1, p1, Kf&b, continue in rib to last 3, Kf&b, p1, k1

Continue in 1×1 rib for 5″. BO. Sew pockets to cardigan. Sew on sleeves. Sew on buttons. Weave in tails.