Cardigan with Diagonal Lace Pattern

How to knit Cardigan with Diagonal Lace Pattern:  

Size: US 8 / UK 12.

Materials:  

600 g yarn (75% viscose, 25% microfiber, 125 yds/50 g), knitting needles US 8 (5 mm) and US 9 (5.5 mm), and 5 buttons.

Double Ribbing Pattern:  

With contrast yarn cast on half of the required stitches.  

Row 1: With working yarn * knit 1, yarn over *, repeat from * to *.  

Row 2: * Knit the yarn over, slip 1 as if to purl with yarn in front *, repeat from * to *.  

Row 3 and all following rows: * Knit 1, slip 1 as if to purl with yarn in front *, repeat from * to *.  

Remove the contrast yarn from the finished piece.

Stockinette Stitch: Right side rows knit, wrong side rows purl.  

Reverse Stockinette Stitch: Right side rows purl, wrong side rows knit.  

Ribbing Pattern 2/2: * Knit 2, purl 2 *, repeat from * to *.  

Ribbing Pattern 1/1: * Knit 1, purl 1 *, repeat from * to *.

Work according to Chart No. 1.  

On wrong side rows purl all stitches and yarn overs.

Diagonal lace pattern to the right (multiple of 16 stitches):  

Work according to Chart No. 2.  

On wrong side rows purl all stitches and yarn overs.

Diagonal lace pattern to the left (multiple of 16 stitches):  

Work according to Chart No. 3.  

On wrong side rows purl all stitches and yarn overs.

Gauge:  

Lace zigzag pattern: 21 stitches and 32 rows = 4 x 4 in (10 x 10 cm).

Back:  

For the band cast on 77 stitches with US 8 (5 mm) needles and contrast yarn, work 8 rows in stockinette stitch. Remove the contrast yarn, place the dropped stitches on an auxiliary needle, fold the band with wrong side inside, hold the auxiliary needle behind the left needle, and knit together 1 stitch from each needle, evenly increasing 13 stitches in total.  

Then work with US 9 (5.5 mm) needles in lace zigzag pattern with 1 edge stitch on each side and decrease 1 stitch on each side every 8th row 6 times.  

After 13.5 in (34 cm) work 3 in (8 cm) in 2/2 rib.  

Then work 38 stitches in diagonal lace pattern to the right (beginning with 4 knit stitches instead of 6), 2 stitches in reverse stockinette stitch, and 38 stitches in diagonal lace pattern to the left (ending with 4 knit stitches instead of 6).  

After 21.5 in (55 cm) for armhole shaping bind off 3 stitches at each side once, then decrease 1 stitch after the first 2 stitches and before the last 2 stitches every 2nd row 2 times.  

At 28.5 in (73 cm) bind off the remaining 72 stitches, 18 stitches for each shoulder.

Right Front:  

With US 8 (5 mm) needles and contrast yarn cast on 40 stitches and work the band as for the back, evenly increasing 5 stitches in the joining row.  

Then with US 9 (5.5 mm) needles work in lace zigzag pattern, working 3 edge stitches on the right and 2 edge stitches on the left, and decrease 1 stitch on the left every 8th row 5 times.  

After 13.5 in (34 cm) work 3 in (8 cm) in 2/2 rib, then 2 stitches in stockinette stitch and 38 stitches in diagonal lace pattern to the left (ending with 4 knit stitches instead of 6).  

After 21 in (53 cm) for the neckline decrease on the right side after the first 2 stitches every 4th row 5 times 2 stitches, 3 times 2 stitches, and 6 times 1 stitch. 

At the same time, after 21.5 in (55 cm) for the armhole bind off 3 stitches on the left once and then decrease 2 stitches before the last 2 stitches every 2nd row 2 times.  

At 28.5 in (73 cm) bind off the remaining 18 stitches for the shoulder.

Left Front:  

Work symmetrically, using diagonal lace pattern to the right instead of left, and vice versa.

Sleeves:  

With US 8 (5 mm) needles and contrast yarn cast on 39 stitches and work the band as for the back, but without increases in the joining row.  

Then with US 9 (5.5 mm) needles work in lace zigzag pattern, with 1 edge stitch on each side, increasing 1 stitch on each side every 8th row 10 times.  

After 19 in (48 cm) for the sleeve cap bind off 3 stitches at each side once, then decrease 1 stitch after the first 2 stitches and before the last 2 stitches every 2nd row 17 times.  

At 24.5 in (62 cm) bind off the remaining 22 stitches.

Finishing:  

Sew shoulder seams.  

With US 8 (5 mm) needles pick up 490 stitches along the front edges and neckline, work 4 rows in 1/1 rib, 4 rows in double rib, and bind off all stitches with a sewn bind-off.  

At the same time, in the 2nd row of the right front band make 5 buttonholes (knit 2 together, yarn over).  

The first buttonhole should be at 12.5 in (32 cm) from the lower edge, the others spaced 2 in (5 cm) apart.  

Set in sleeves and sew sleeve seams.  

Sew on the buttons.