Copyright Elspeth M. Kursh, 2009. Not for any commercial use without prior, written permission. Please contact [email protected] or visit http://wrypunster.typepad.com for more information. Pattern is available for free and may be freely distributed with this notice intact. Optimist A cardigan by Elspeth M. Kursh that explores the contrast between the raw, rolling edges of stockinette and the architectural elegance of clean lines. Designed to take you to work on the gloomiest of winter days in warmth and style. This pattern assumes a basic level of knitting knowledge and a familiarity with patterns, decreases and seaming, as well as the ability to reverse shaping. Gauge: 16 stitches and 20 rows over four inches in stockinette stitch using larger needles. Please note: the sample swatch changed gauge after washing; this is the blocked gauge. For accurate sizing, treat your swatch accordingly. The sample garment has a measurement of 37 inches and is shown on a 35 inch bust, for two inches of ease. Yarn: Reynolds Candide, an Aran weight wool, 194 yards per skein. Sample shown required 5 balls, with a generous amount remaining of the fifth ball. Needles and Notions: US 5 and US 7, circular or straight. A circular needle is suggested for the smaller size, as the collar is picked up and knit, though not mandatory. Darning needle. A cardigan this simple needs the structure of seams, so resist the temptation to work everything in one piece. Back: CO 74 st with smaller needle. Beginning with a purl row, work evenly in St st for 7 rows, ending with a purl row. Change to larger needles and work evenly in St st (thus, you begin with your larger needles on a k row) until work measures 16 inches, ending with a p row. In sample shown: row 79. On following two rows, BO 5 st. 64 st rem. On following two rows, BO 4 st. 56 stitches rem. On next RS and following sixth and twelfth row, dec 1 st at each armhole edge. Sample shown decreased on rows 90, 96 and 102. 50 stitches rem. Work evenly until armhole measures 9.5 inches. In sample shown: row 128. Work across next 13 stitches.
Transcript
Copyright Elspeth M. Kursh, 2009. Not for any commercial use without prior, written permission. Please contact [email protected] or visit
http://wrypunster.typepad.com for more information. Pattern is available for free and may be freely distributed with this notice intact.
Optimist A cardigan by Elspeth M. Kursh that explores the contrast between the raw, rolling edges of stockinette and the architectural elegance of clean lines. Designed to take you to work on the gloomiest of winter days in warmth and style. This pattern
assumes a basic level of knitting knowledge and a familiarity with patterns, decreases and seaming, as well as the ability to reverse shaping. Gauge: 16 stitches and 20 rows over four inches in stockinette stitch using larger needles. Please note: the sample swatch changed gauge after washing; this is the blocked gauge. For accurate sizing, treat your swatch accordingly. The sample garment has a measurement of 37 inches and is shown on a 35 inch bust, for two inches of ease. Yarn: Reynolds Candide, an Aran weight wool, 194 yards per skein. Sample shown required 5 balls, with a generous amount remaining of the fifth ball. Needles and Notions: US 5 and US 7, circular or straight. A circular needle is suggested for the smaller size, as the collar is picked up and knit, though not mandatory. Darning needle. A cardigan this simple needs the structure of seams, so resist the temptation to work everything in one piece. Back: CO 74 st with smaller needle. Beginning with a purl row, work evenly in St st for 7 rows, ending with a purl row. Change to larger needles and work evenly in St st (thus, you begin with your larger needles on a k row) until work measures 16 inches, ending with a p row. In sample shown: row 79. On following two rows, BO 5 st. 64 st rem. On following two rows, BO 4 st. 56 stitches rem. On next RS and following sixth and twelfth row, dec 1 st at each armhole edge. Sample shown decreased on rows 90, 96 and 102. 50 stitches rem. Work evenly until armhole measures 9.5 inches. In sample shown: row 128. Work across next 13 stitches.
Copyright Elspeth M. Kursh, 2009. Not for any commercial use without prior, written permission. Please contact [email protected] or visit
http://wrypunster.typepad.com for more information. Pattern is available for free and may be freely distributed with this notice intact.
Turn work and work 5 additional rows of St st over these 13 stitches. BO these 13 st and break yarn. With new piece of yarn, BO center 24 st at neck. 13 t remain. Work across row, then work 5 additional rows in St st. BO all stitches. No st rem. Fronts: Make two. CO 34 st with smaller needle. Beginning with a p row, work evenly in St st for 7 rows, ending with a p row. Change to larger needles and work evenly in St st, as you did for the back, until work measures 16 inches. On the following row, BO 5 stitches at armhole edge. 29 st rem. On the next alt row, BO 4 stitches at armhole edge. Dec one stitch at armhole edge on next alt, sixth and twelfth row. 22 st rem. On next RS row, knit to three stitches before neck edging, dec 1, knit 1. 21 st rem. P one row. Repeat last two rows eight more times; 13 stitches remain. Work evenly until armhole measures 9.5 inches. BO all stitches.
Sleeves: Make two. CO 40 stitches with smaller needle. Beginning with a p row, work evenly in St st for 7 rows, ending with a p row. Change to larger needles and work evenly in St st, increasing one st each side (two st per row) on next right side and eighth following row, nine times, for a total of 60 st. Sample shown increased on rows 10, 18, 26, 34, 42, 50, 58, 66, 74 and 82. Work evenly until sleeve measures 19 inches, or desired length. On next two rows, BO 5 stitches. 50 stitches remain. Sample shown bound off on
rows 96 and 97. On next and all following right side rows, dec two stitches per row: k1, ssk, knit to last three st, k2tog, k1. Purl one row. Repeat last two rows until 16 stitches rem. On next row and following row (a WS, then RS; in sample, row 131 and 132), BO 3 stitches. 10 stitches remain. BO remaining 10 stitches. Finishing and collar: Sew shoulders together. Make collar with smaller needle: pick up and knit 76 st along left front, 20 st along collar and 76 st along right front. 172 stitches. Work evenly in St st on smaller needle for 20 rows. BO all stitches. It is advisable to work the collar before setting in the sleeves, to minimize weight on your wrists. Sew sleeves into armholes, then sew side and sleeve seams. Weave in ends. Block gently, allowing edges to curl.
