Cardigan with Rounded Bands
How to knit the cardigan with rounded bands:
Size: US 8–10 / UK 12–14
Materials:
600 g yarn (50 % wool, 50 % acrylic, 190 m/100 g); knitting needles US 6 (4 mm) and US 7 (4.5 mm), as well as 3 buttons.
Tubular Ribbing Pattern:
With contrasting yarn, cast on half of the required number of stitches;
Row 1: with working yarn * knit 1 stitch, yarn over *, repeat from * to *;
Row 2: * knit the yarn over, slip 1 stitch as if to purl, yarn in front of work *, repeat from * to *;
Row 3 and all following rows: * knit 1 stitch, slip 1 stitch as if to purl, yarn in front of work *, repeat from * to *;
remove the contrasting yarn from the finished piece.
Ribbing Pattern 2/2: alternately knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches.
Cable Pattern: Number of stitches multiple of 11 + 5.
Rows 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17: * purl 2 stitches, knit 1 stitch, purl 2 stitches, knit 6 stitches *, repeat from * to *, at the end of the row purl 2 stitches, knit 1 stitch and purl 2 stitches;
Row 2 and all even-numbered rows: work the stitches as they appear;
Rows 7 and 19: * purl 2 stitches, knit 1 stitch, purl 2 stitches, cross 6 stitches to the left (= slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold in front of work, knit 3 stitches, then knit the stitches from the cable needle) *, repeat from * to *, at the end of the row purl 2 stitches, knit 1 stitch and purl 2 stitches;
Row 21: repeat the pattern repeat from Row 3.
Gauge:
Cable Pattern slightly stretched: 22 stitches and 22 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 inches).
Back:
With knitting needles US 6 (4 mm), cast on 82 stitches and work 4 rows in Tubular Ribbing Pattern, then continue in Ribbing Pattern 2/2.
After 6 cm (2.5 inches) from the cast-on edge, switch to knitting needles US 7 (4.5 mm) and work in Cable Pattern.
After 50 cm (19.75 inches) from the cast-on edge, for armholes bind off 2 stitches once on each side, then decrease after the first 2 stitches and before the last 2 stitches in every second row 2 times 1 stitch.
After 68 cm (26.75 inches) from the cast-on edge, bind off the remaining 74 stitches, including 20 stitches for each shoulder.
Right Front:
With knitting needles US 7 (4.5 mm), cast on 24 stitches and work in Cable Pattern, beginning the row with purl 2 stitches and knit 6 stitches.
Starting from Row 3, on the right side after the first 2 stitches increase 7 stitches once, then in every second row increase 1 stitch 18 times, working the new stitches in Cable Pattern.
After 25 cm (10 inches) from the cast-on edge, work 10 cm (4 inches) without increases.
After 35 cm (13.75 inches) from the cast-on edge, for the neckline on the right side after the first 2 stitches decrease 1 stitch in every second row 25 times.
After 42 cm (16.5 inches) from the cast-on edge, for the armhole bind off 2 stitches on the left side and then decrease 1 stitch in every second row 2 times.
After 60 cm (23.5 inches) from the cast-on edge, bind off the remaining 20 stitches.
Left Front: Work symmetrically to the right front.
Sleeve:
With knitting needles US 6 (4 mm), cast on 58 stitches and work 4 rows in Tubular Ribbing Pattern, then continue in Ribbing Pattern 2/2.
After 2 cm (0.75 inches) from the cast-on edge, switch to knitting needles US 7 (4.5 mm) and work in Cable Pattern.
After 6 cm (2.5 inches) from the cast-on edge, for the sleeve cap bind off 2 stitches once on each side, then decrease 1 stitch in every second row 17 times.
After 21 cm (8.25 inches) from the cast-on edge, bind off the remaining 20 stitches.
Finishing:
Sew the shoulder seams.
For the front bands and neckline, with knitting needles US 6 (4 mm) pick up 44 stitches along the back neckline and work in Ribbing Pattern 2/2, at the same time on both sides of the work in every second row pick up along the neckline of each front 6 stitches 5 times and 5 stitches 6 times, then pick up along the center edge of each front 74 stitches once and along the cast-on edge of each front 24 stitches once.
Work the newly picked-up stitches in Ribbing Pattern 2/2 as they appear.
After 8 cm (3.25 inches), measured at the shortest section, work 4 rows in Tubular Ribbing Pattern and bind off all stitches.
At the same time, at a height of 5 cm (2 inches) from the beginning of the band, on the central 10 cm (4 inches) of the front edge of the right front, work 3 buttonholes (knit 2 stitches together, yarn over) with a spacing of 5 cm (2 inches).
Set in the sleeves, sew the sleeve seams and side seams.
Sew on the buttons.
For the belt, with knitting needles US 7 (4.5 mm), cast on 9 stitches, work 120 cm (47.25 inches) in Tubular Ribbing Pattern and bind off all stitches using grafting.
For the belt loops, with knitting needles US 7 (4.5 mm), cast on 5 stitches, work 8 cm (3.25 inches) in Tubular Ribbing Pattern and bind off all stitches using grafting.
Work 2 belt loops and sew them to the side seams at a distance of 20 cm (8 inches) from the lower band.
