Neutral Knit Cardigan

This Neutral Knit Cardigan from Vickie Howell is great for beginning knitters.  It looks intricate, but it's actually deceivingly simple!  Make one knit cardigan in your favorite colors so you always have something to toss on before leaving the house! 

Materials:

• Caron 'Country' yarn (75% Microdenier acrylic/25% merino wool; 3oz/85g, 185yds/170m skein) 18 (21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36)oz  (COLOR:  #0021 Peacock)
• One pair U.S. size 11 (8mm)
• Stitch holder
• Yarn needle

Sizes: Women's XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X)

Finished Measurements:

Bust: 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52)"/71 (81.5, 91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132)cm

Length: 21 (21, 21 1/2, 22, 22 1/2, 23, 23 1/2)"/53.5 (53.5, 54.5, 56, 57, 58.5, 59.5)cm

GAUGE:  In pattern, 13 sts and 20 rows = 4"/10cm.

STITCHES USED:  Stockinette stitch (St st): K on RS, p on WS.

Pattern Stitch:

Foliage Lace (over 20 sts)

1. Row 1 (RS): K5, p2tog, k2, yo, k5, yo, k2, p2tog, k2.
    
2. Row 2 and all WS rows) Purl.
    
3. Row 3: K4, p2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p2tog, k7.
    
4. Row 5: K3, p2tog, k2, yo, k3, yo, k2, p2tog, k6.
    
5. Row 7: K2, p2tog, k2, yo, k5, yo, k2, p2tog, k5.
    
6. Row 9: K7, p2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p2tog, k4
    
7. Row 11: K6, p2tog, k2, yo, k3, yo, k2, p2tog, k3.
    
8. Row 12: Purl.
    
9. Repeat Rows 1-12 for Foliage Lace pattern.

SPECIAL TERMS:  ssk: Slip, slip, knit—Slip 2 sts, one at a time KNITWISE to right needle, return sts to left needle in turned position and knit them together through the back loops. (1 st decreased)

M1: Make 1—Lift strand between needles to left needle and knit strand through the back loop, twisting it to prevent a hole. (1 st increased)

Instructions:

BACK

1. With 2 strands of yarn held tog, CO 52 (58, 64, 70, 76, 82, 88) sts.
    
2. Work 2 rows in St st (k on RS, p on WS).
    
3. Next Row (RS): Ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog—50 (56, 62, 68, 74, 80, 86) sts.
    
4. Next Row: Purl.
    
5. Repeat last 2 rows 4 more times—42 (48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 78) sts.
    
6. Work even in St st until piece measures 8"/20.5cm from beginning; end with a WS row.
    
7. Next Row (RS): Ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog—40 (46, 52, 58, 64, 70, 76) sts
    
8. Work even in St st for 3 more rows.
    
9. Repeat last 4 rows twice more—36 (42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72) sts.
    
10. Next Row (RS): K1, M1, knit to last st, M1, k1—38 (44, 50, 56, 62, 68, 74) sts.
     
11. Work in even St st for 3 rows.
     
12. Repeat last 4 rows twice more—42 (48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 78) sts.
     
13. Work even until piece measures 15"/38 cm from beginning; end with a WS row.

Shape Armholes

1. Next Row (RS): BO 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4) sts, ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog—38 (44, 50, 55, 61, 67, 72) sts.
    
2. Next Row: BO 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4) sts, purl to end—36 (42,48, 52, 58, 64, 68) sts.
    
3. Work even until armhole measures 6 (6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2)"/15 (15, 16.5, 18, 19, 20.5, 21.5)cm; end with a WS row.

Shape Neck

1. Next Row (RS): K8 (11, 14, 14, 16, 18, 18), BO 20 (20, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32) sts for back neck, k8 (11, 14, 14, 16, 18, 18).
    
2. Next Row: P8 (11, 14, 14, 16, 18, 18) sts; leave rem 8 (11, 14, 14, 16, 18, 18) sts on holder.
    
3. Next Row: BO 8 (11, 14, 14, 16, 18, 18) sts.
    
4. Rejoin yarn on WS of rem sts and P8 (11, 14, 14, 16, 18, 18).
    
5. BO.

LEFT FRONT

1. CO 26 (28, 30, 34, 36, 40, 42) sts.
    
2. Row 1 (RS): Knit.
    
3. Row 2 and all WS rows: K2, purl to end.
    
4. Row 3: Ssk, knit to last 22 sts, work Row 1 of Foliage Lace pat, k2—25 (27, 29, 33, 35, 39, 41) sts.
    
5. Row 5: Ssk, knit to last 22 sts, work Row 3 of Foliage Lace pat, k2—24 (26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 40) sts..
    
6. Row 7: Ssk, knit to last 22 sts, work Row 5 of Foliage Lace pat, k2—23 (25, 27, 31, 33, 37, 39) sts.
    
7. Work even pat until piece measures 8"/20 cm; end with a WS row.
    
8. Next Row (RS): Ssk, knit to end—22 (24, 26, 30, 32, 36, 38) sts.
    
9. Work 3 rows in pat.
    
10. Repeat last 4 rows twice more—20 (22, 24, 28, 30, 34, 36) sts.
     
11. Next Row (RS): K1, M1, knit to end—21 (23, 25, 29, 31, 35, 37) sts.
     
12. Work 3 rows in pat.
     
13. Repeat last 4 rows twice more—23 (25, 27, 31, 33, 37, 39) sts.
     
14. Work even until piece measures 15"/38cm; end with a WS row
     

Shape Armhole

1. Next Row (RS): BO 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4) sts, ssk, knit end—20 (22, 24, 27, 29, 33, 34) sts.
    
2. Next Row: K2, purl to end.

Shape Neck

1. Next Row (RS): Knit to last to sts, k2tog—19 (21, 23, 26, 28, 32, 33) sts.
    
2. Next Row: K2, purl to end.
    
3. Repeat last 2 rows until 8 (11, 14, 14, 16, 18, 18) sts rem.
    
4. Work even until armhole measures 6 (6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2)"/15 (15, 16.5, 18, 19, 20.5, 21.5) cm.
    
5. BO

RIGHT FRONT

1. Work as for Left Front, reversing shaping and replacing Foliage Lace pattern st with St st.

SLEEVE
Cuff

1. CO 26 (26, 26, 32, 32, 32, 38) sts.
    
2. Row 1 (RS): K3, (3, 3, 6, 6, 6, 9), work Row 1 of Foliage Lace pat, k3, (3, 3, 6, 6, 6, 9).
    
3. Row 2 and all WS Rows: Purl.
    
4. Work even in pat as established for 3"/7.5cm.
    
5. Work even in pat for 3″/8cm; work in straight st st for 4/10cm” more, ending with a WS row.
    
6. BO.

Sleeve

1. CO 26 (26, 26, 32, 32, 32, 38) sts.
    
2. Working in St st, inc 1 st at each end every 4th row until there are 36 (36, 40, 42, 46, 48, 52) sts.
    
3. Work even until sleeve measures 15″/38cm.
    
4. BO.

FINISHING

1. Sew cuffs onto sleeves with wrong sides together so that exposed seams are on the RS.
    
2. Sew shoulder seams, attach sleeves, and sew side and sleeve seams. Using yarn needle, weave in all ends. Block.