Basic Cardigan
By: Lorna Miser
Sizes: 38 (42, 46, 50, 54)” finished chest measurement
Materials: Lorna's Laces Lion & Lamb – 50% silk 50% wool – 205 yards: 5 (6, 6, 7, 9) skeins
(Shepherd Worsted, Fisherman or Bullfrogs & Butterflies would be excellent substitutions)
Needles: size 6 & 8 needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge: 20 sts = 4” in stockinette stitch
1 x 1 ribbing: On right side, knit 1, *purl 1, knit 1, repeat from * across. On wrong side, purl 1, *knit 1, purl 1,
repeat from * across.
Stockinette: Knit on right side, purl on wrong side.
Back: With smaller needles cast on 85 (95, 103, 113, 121) sts. Work in 1 x 1 ribbing for 7 rows or about 1”. On
next row increase 11 (11, 13, 13, 15) sts for a total of 96 (106, 116, 126, 136) sts. With larger needles work in
stockinette stitch until back measures 13 (13½, 15, 15, 16)” from beginning.
Shape Armhole: Bind off 6 (7, 9, 10, 11) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Decrease 1 st at each side, every other
row 6 (7, 8, 10, 11) times. Continue in stockinette until back measures 22 (23, 25, 26, 29½)”.
Shoulder shaping: Bind off 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next 6 (2, 6, 4, 4) rows. Bind off 0 (7, 0, 8, 9) sts at
beginning of next 0 (4, 0, 2, 2) rows. Shoulders may also be shaped with short rows rather than bind offs. Bind off
remaining stitches for back neck.
Fronts: With smaller needles cast on 43 (47, 51, 57, 61) sts. Work in 1 x 1 ribbing for 7 rows or about 1”. On next
row increase 5 (6, 7, 6, 7) sts for a total of 48 (53, 58, 63, 68) sts
With larger needles work in stockinette stitch until front measures 13 (13½, 15, 15, 16)” from beginning.
Shape Armhole: Bind off 6 (7, 9, 10, 11) sts at beginning of next armhole edge row. Decrease 1 st at armhole side,
every other row 6 (7, 8, 10, 11) times. Continue in stockinette until front measures 20 (21, 23, 24, 27½)”.
Shape Neck: At neck edge, bind off 15 (16, 15, 16, 13) sts. Decrease 1 st at neck edge evry other row 3 (3, 5, 5, 8)
times. Continue until front measures same as back to shoulders. Shape shoulders as for back.
Sleeves: With smaller needles cast on 43 (45, 49, 53, 57) sts. Work in 1 x 1 ribbing for 7 rows or about 1”. On next
row increase 5 (5, 7, 7, 7) sts for a total of 48 (50, 56, 60, 64) sts. With larger needles work in stockinette stitch,
increasing 1 st at each edge every 4th (4th , 4th , 4th , other) row 21 (23, 22, 25, 36) times. Continue until sleeve
measures 18 (18, 18 ½, 19 ½, 20)”.
Shape cap sleeve: Bind off 6 (7, 9, 10, 11) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Decrease 1 st each side, every row 22
(24, 24, 27, 34) times. Bind off remaining 34 (34, 34, 36, 46).
Finishing: Sew shoulder, side, sleeve and armhole seams.
Left front band: With smaller needles, pick up 99 (105, 115, 119, 137) sts. Work in 1 x 1 ribbing for 1”. Bind off.
Place markers at desired button placements.
Right front band: Work same as for left front, working a “knit 2 together, yarn over” buttonhole to correspond
with each button placement of left front.
Neck band: With smaller needles, pick up 75 (79, 87, 91, 97) around neck edge. Work in 1 x 1 ribbing as for front
bands, working 1 buttonhole on right neck edge. Bind off.