Lacy Knit Cardigan

Beautiful light and lacy knit cardigan, perfect for layering. Dress it up with a skirt or dress it down with jeans. This is an intermediate level project from Patons. Also try the matching kids' cardigan!

Find this pattern and more free lace knitting patterns in the Easy Lace Knitting Patterns eBook.
 

MATERIALS

• Patons Astra (50 g/1.75 oz)
  
  • 8 8 9 10 balls
• Knitting Needles: Sizes 3.75 (U.S. 5) and 4 mm (U.S. 6)
• Circular knitting needle: size 3.75 (U.S. 5) or size needed to obtain tension.
• St holder.
• 7 buttons.

SIZES - S M L XL
To fit bust measurement

• Small 34 ins [86.5 cm ]
• Medium 36 ins [91.5 cm ]
• Large 38 ins [96.5 cm ]
• Extra-Large 40 ins [101.5 cm ]

Finished bust

• Small 39 ins [99 cm ]
• Medium 41½ ins [105.5 cm ]
• Large 44 ins [112 cm ]
• Extra-Large 47 ins [119.5 cm ]

TENSION
21 sts and 34 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] with larger needles in lace pat.

INSTRUCTIONS
The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ).

BACK
With smaller needles, cast on 99 (106-113-120) sts.
1st row: (RS). P1. *P1. K2. yfwd. Sl1. K1. psso. P2. Rep from * to end of row.
2nd row: *K2. P4. K1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
3rd row: P1. *P1. K2tog. yfwd. K2. P2. Rep from * to end of row.
4th row: As 2nd row.
These 4 rows form Eyelet Rib Pat.
Work a further 8 rows in Eyelet Rib Pat, inc 3 sts evenly across last row. 102 (109-116-123) sts.
Change to larger needles and proceed in Lace Pat as follows:
1st row: (RS). K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K5. yfwd. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd and alt rows: Purl.
3rd row: K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K4. yfwd. K1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
5th row: K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K3. yfwd. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
7th row: K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K2. yfwd. K3. Rep from * to last st. K1.
9th row: K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K1. yfwd. K4. Rep from * to last st. K1.
11th row: K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. yfwd. K5. Rep from * to last st. K1.
13th row: K1. *yfwd. K5. K2tog. Rep from * to last 3 sts. K3.
15th row: K2. *yfwd. K4. K2tog. K1. Rep from * to last 2 sts. K2.
17th row: K3. *yfwd. K3. K2tog. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
19th row: K4. *yfwd. K2. K2tog. K3. Rep from * to end of row.
21st row: K5. *yfwd. K1. K2tog. K4. Rep from * to last 6 sts. yfwd. K1. K2tog. K3.
23rd row: K6. *yfwd. K2tog. K5. Rep from * to last 5 sts. yfwd. K2tog. K3.
24th row: Purl.
These 24 rows form Lace Pat.
Cont in Lace Pat until work from beg measures approx 12 ins [30.5 cm], ending on a 16th row of Lace Pat.
Armhole shaping: 1st row: (RS). Cast off 3 sts (1 st rem after cast off). yfwd. K2. K2tog. K2. *yfwd. K3. K2tog. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd row: Cast off 3 sts. Purl to end of row.
3rd row: Sl1. K1. psso. yfwd. K1. K2tog. K3. *yfwd. K2. K2tog. K3. Rep from * to last 4 sts. yfwd. K2. K2tog.
4th row: P2tog. Purl to end of row.
5th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K5. *yfwd. K1. K2tog. K4. Rep from * to last 3 sts. K1. K2tog.
6th row: Purl.
7th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K4. *yfwd. K2tog. K5. Rep from * to last 2 sts. K2tog.
8th row: P2tog. Purl to last 2 sts. P2togtbl. 88 (95-102-109) sts.
Beg with 1st row of Lace Pat, cont even in pat until armhole measures approx 7 (7½-8-8½) ins [18 (19-20.5-21.5) cm], ending on a 10th (12th-14th-18th) row.
Shoulder shaping: Cast off 13 (14-15-17) sts beg next 2 rows, then cast off 13 (15-16-17) sts beg following 2 rows. Leave rem 36 (37-40-41) sts on a st holder.

LEFT FRONT
**With smaller needles, cast on 50 (57-57-64) sts.
Work 12 rows in Eyelet Rib Pat as given for Back, inc 3 sts evenly across last row. 53 (60-60-67) sts.
Change to larger needles and proceed in Lace Pat as given for Back until work from beg measures approx 12 ins [30.5 cm], ending on a 16th row of Lace Pat.**
Armhole and V-neck shaping:
1st row: (RS). Cast off 3 sts (1 st rem on needle after cast off). yfwd. K2. K2tog. K2. *yfwd. K3. K2tog. K2. Rep from * to last 8 sts. yfwd. K3. K2tog. K1. K2tog.
2nd row: Purl.
3rd row: Sl1. K1. psso. yfwd. K1. K2tog. K3. *yfwd. K2. K2tog. K3. Rep from * to last 6 sts. yfwd. K2. (K2tog) twice.
4th row: Purl.
5th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K6. *yfwd. K1. K2tog. K4. Rep from * to last 4 sts. K2. K2tog.
6th row: Purl.
7th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K6. *yfwd. K2tog. K5. Rep from * to last 2 sts. K2tog.
8th row: Purl to last 2 sts. P2togtbl. 42 (49-49-56) sts.
Dec 1 st at V-neck edge only on next and every alt row 5 (11-5-11) times, then every 4th row from previous dec 10 (8-12-10) times. 26 (29-31-34) sts.
Cont even in pat until armhole measures same length as Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending on a 10th (12th-14th-18th) row.
Shoulder shaping: Cast off 13 (14-15-17) sts beg next row.
Purl 1 row. Cast off rem 13 (15-16- 17) sts.

RIGHT FRONT
Work from ** to ** as given for Left Front.
Armhole and V-neck shaping:
1st row: (RS). Sl1. K1. psso. K1. *yfwd. K3. K2tog. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd row: Cast off 3 sts. Purl to end of row.
3rd row: Sl1. K1. psso. K1. *yfwd. K2. K2tog. K3. Rep from * to last 4 sts. yfwd. (K2tog) twice.
4th row: Purl.
5th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K1. *yfwd. K1. K2tog. K4. Rep from * to last 3 sts. K1. K2tog.
6th row: Purl.
7th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K1. *yfwd. K2tog. K5. Rep from * to last 2 sts. K2tog.
8th row: P2tog. Purl to end of row. 42 (49-49-56) sts.
Proceed as follows to cont shaping V-neck only:
1st row: (RS). Sl1. K1. psso. K4. *Sl1. K1. psso. K5. yfwd. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd and alt rows: Purl.
3rd row: Sl1. K1. psso. K3. *Sl1. K1. psso. K4. yfwd. K1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
5th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K2. *Sl1. K1. psso. K3. yfwd. K2. Rep from * to last st. K1.
7th row: Sl1. K1. psso. K1. *Sl1. K1. psso. K2. yfwd. K3. Rep from * to last st. K1.
9th row: Sl1. K1. psso. *Sl1. K1. psso. K1. yfwd. K4. Rep from * to last st. K1.
11th row: Sl1. K2tog. psso. yfwd. K5. *Sl1. K1. psso. yfwd. K5. Rep from * to last st. K1. 36 (43-43-50) sts.

Sizes M and XL only: Dec 1 st at neck edge only, as established above, on next and every alt row 4 times.

All Sizes: Dec 1 st at neck edge only, as established above, on every 4th row from previous dec 10 (9-12-11) times. 26 (29-31- 34) sts.
Cont even in pat until armhole measures same length as Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending on an 11th (13th-15th-19th) row.
Shoulder shaping: Cast off 13 (14-15-17) sts beg next row. Work 1 row even. Cast off rem 13 (15- 16-17) sts.

SLEEVES
With smaller needles, cast on 57 sts.
Work 12 rows in Eyelet Rib Pat as given for Back, inc 3 sts evenly across last row. 60 sts.
Change to larger needles and proceed in Lace Pat as given for Back, inc 1 st at each end of needle on 5th and every following 6th (6th- 4th-4th) row to 78 (84-90-94) sts, taking inc sts into stocking st.
Cont even in pat until work from beg measures 11½ ins [29 cm], ending with RS facing for next row.
Top Shaping: Cast off 2 sts beg next 2 rows. Dec 1 st each end of needle on next and every following alt row 12 times. Dec 1 st each end of needle on following 6 rows. Cast off 3 sts beg next 4 rows. Cast off rem 24 (30-36-40) sts.

FINISHING
Pin garment pieces to measurements. Cover with a damp cloth leaving to dry.
Buttonhole and button band: Sew shoulder seams. With RS of work facing and circular needle, pick up and knit 63 sts up Right Front edge to V-neck shaping.
Pick up and knit 42 (44-48-50) sts up Right Front V-neck edge to shoulder seam. K36 (37-40-41) from back st holder, dec 2 sts evenly across. Pick up and knit 42 (44-48-50) sts down Left Front Vneck edge. Pick up and knit 63 sts down Left Front edge to lower edge. 244 (249-260-265) sts.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: K3. *Cast off 1 st. K9 (including st on needle after cast off). Rep from * 5 times more. Cast off 1 st. Knit to end of row.
Next row: Knit, casting on 2 sts over each cast off st to make a loop.
Cast off purlwise (RS).
Sew in Sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams. Sew buttons to correspond to button loops.