lion brand® wool-ease® thick & quick® back to basics knit cardigan

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
- S/M (L/1X, 2X/3X, 4X/5X)
- Finished Chest About 40 (49, 56, 65) in. 101.5 (124.5, 142, 165) cm
- Finished Back Length About 30 in. (76 cm)
- Finished Front Length About 28 in. (71 cm)
Note: Pattern is written for smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow pattern more easily, circle all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.
GAUGE: 9 sts + 12 rows = about 4 in. (10 cm) in St st (k on RS, p on WS) with smaller needle; be sure to check your gauge.
STITCH EXPLANATIONS:
- SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit): Slip next 2 sts as if to knit, one at a time, to right needle; insert left needle into fronts of these 2 sts and knit them tog – 1 st decreased.
- YO (Yarn Over): An increase that also creates a small decorative hole (eyelet) in the fabric, worked as follows:
1. Bring yarn to front, between the needles.
2. Take yarn to back, over the right needle. This creates the new st. You are now ready to proceed with the next st as instructed.

PATTERN STITCH:
K1, p1 Rib (worked over a multiple of 2 sts + 1 additional st)
Row 1 (WS): P2, k1, *p1, k1; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 2: K2, p1, *k1, p1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 for K1, p1 Rib.
NOTES:
- The Back and two Fronts are worked first, then the shoulders are seamed. After seaming shoulders, stitches for the sleeves are picked up along the armhole edges.
- The Back is 2 in. (5 cm) longer than the Fronts.
- All pieces are worked back and forth in rows on a circular needle as if working with straight needles. Circular needles are used to accommodate the large numbers of stitches.
- The front band is worked from stitches picked along the front and neck edges of the Cardigan.
- Work even in the instructions means to continue on in the pattern st you have established without changing the st count by increasing, decreasing, or binding off.
- As established in the instructions means to continue in the current pattern st. For example, to continue in a rib pattern, k the knit sts and p the purl sts.

BACK:
With larger needle, cast on 45 (55, 63, 73) sts.
Beg with Row 1 of rib, work in K1, p1 Rib until piece measures about 5 in. (12.5 cm) from beg, end with a WS row as the last row you work.
Change to smaller needle.
Work even in St st (k on RS, p on WS) until piece measures about 28 in. (71 cm) from beg, end with a WS row as the last row you work.
Shape Back Neck and Shoulders
Row 1 (RS): K15 (19, 22, 26) sts for right shoulder, join 2nd ball of yarn and bind off centre 15 (17, 19, 21) sts, k to end for left shoulder – you will have 15 (19, 22, 26) sts for each shoulder.
You will now work both shoulders AT THE SAME TIME with separate balls of yarn.
Row 2: Purl all sts of each shoulder.
Row 3 (Decrease Row – RS): K to last 4 sts of right shoulder, ssk, k2; on left shoulder, k2, k2tog, k to end – 14 (18, 21, 25) sts for each shoulder.
Rows 4 and 5: Rep Rows 2 and 3 – 13 (17, 20, 24) sts for each shoulder in Row 5.
Row 6: Purl all sts of each shoulder.
Bind off.

LEFT FRONT:
With larger needle, cast on 21 (25, 29, 35) sts.
Beg with Row 1 of rib, work in K1, p1 Rib until piece measures about 3 in. (7.5 cm) from beg, end with a WS row as the last row you work.
Change to smaller needle.
Work even in St st until piece measures about 19 1/2 (18 3/4, 18, 17 1/2) in. (49.5 (47.5, 45.5, 44.5) cm) from beg, end with a WS row as the last row you work.
Shape Front V-Neck
Row 1 (Decrease Row – RS): K to last 4 sts, ssk, k2 – 20 (24, 28, 34) sts.
Sizes S/M (2X/3X) ONLY
Rows 2-4: Work even in St st for 3 rows.
Row 5: Rep Row 1 – 19 (27) sts.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Rep Row 1 – 18 (26) sts.
Rows 8-19: Rep Rows 2-7 twice – 14 (22) sts in Row 19.
Rows 20-23 (27): Rep Rows 2-5 for 1 (2) more times – 13 (20) sts in Row 23 (27).
Work even in St st until piece measures about 28 in. (71 cm) from beg.
Bind off.

Size L/1X ONLY
Rows 2-4: Work even in St st for 3 rows.
Row 5: Rep Row 1 – 23 sts.
Rows 6-9: Rep Rows 2-5 – 22 sts in Row 9.
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: Rep Row 1 – 21 sts.
Rows 12-21: Rep Rows 2-11 – 18 sts in Row 21.
Rows 22-25: Rep Rows 2-5 – 17 sts in Row 25.
Work even in St st until piece measures about 28 in. (71 cm) from beg.
Bind off.
Size 4X/5X ONLY
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Rep Row 1 – 33 sts.
Rows 4-6: Work in St st for 3 rows.
Row 7: Rep Row 1 – 32 sts.
Rows 8-31: Rep Rows 2-7 for 4 more times – 24 sts in Row 31.
Work even in St st until piece measures about 28 in. (71 cm) from beg.
Bind off.

RIGHT FRONT:
Make same as Left Front to Shape Front V-Neck.
Shape Front V-Neck
Row 1 (Decrease Row – RS): K2, k2tog, k to end of row – 20 (24, 28, 34) sts.
Complete Right Front same as Left Front, working neck decrease on at beg of decrease rows.
SLEEVES (make 2):
Sew shoulder seams.
Place markers on both side edges of Back and Fronts, 8 in. (20.5 cm) below shoulder seams.
Row 1 (RS): From RS with smaller needle, pick up and k37 sts evenly spaced along one armhole edge between markers.
Rows 2-4: Work even in St st for 3 rows.
Row 5 (Decrease Row – RS): K2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2 – 35 sts.
Rep Rows 2-5 for 6 (6, 7, 6) more times – 23 (23, 21, 23) sts when all decreases have been completed.
Sizes S/M (L/1X) ONLY
Next 5 Rows: Work even in St st for 5 rows.
Next Row: Rep Row 5 – 21 sts.
Rep last 6 rows 1 (0) more time(s) – 19 (21) sts.

ALL Sizes
Work even in St st until Sleeve measures about 15 1/4 (13 1/4, 12, 10) in. (38.5 (33.5, 30.5, 25.5) cm).
Change to larger needle and work in K1, p1 Rib for 3 in. (7.5 cm).
Bind off.
FINISHING:
Block piece to measurements.
Sew sleeve seams.
Sew side seams, leaving sides of lower ribbing open for side slits.
Front Band
From RS with larger needle, beg at lower right front corner, pick up and k58 (56, 54, 52) sts evenly spaced along right front edge to beg of V-neck shaping, (pick up and k1, yo, pick up and k1) all at beg of V-neck shaping for increase and place a marker in the yo just made, pick up and k25 (27, 29, 31) sts along right V-neck edge, pick up and k19 (21, 23, 25) sts along back neck, pick up and k25 (27, 29, 31) sts along left V-neck edge, (pick up and k1, yo, pick up and k1) all at beg of V-neck shaping for increase and place a marker in the yo just made, pick up and k58 (56, 54, 52) sts along left front edge to lower left front corner – 191 (193, 195, 197) sts.
Row 1 (WS): Beg with a WS row, work in K1, p1 Rib for 3 rows.
Row 4 (RS) (Increase Row): *Work in K1, p1 Rib as established to first marker, (k1, yo, k1) in marked st; rep from * once more, work in K1, p1 Rib as established to end of row – 195 (197, 199, 201) sts.
Work even in K1, p1 Rib until band measures about 2 in. (5 cm).
Bind off.
Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS:
Beg = Begin(ning)(s)
K = Knit
K2tog = Knit 2 Stitches Together
P = Purl
Rep = Repeat
RS = Right Side
Ssk = Slip, Slip, Knit
St(s) = Stitch(es)
St St = Stockinette Stitch
WS = Wrong Side
Yo = Yarn Over

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