Diamond Pattern Cardigan

How to knit the Diamond Pattern Cardigan:
Sizes: EU 36 (38/40) 42 / US 6 (8/10) 12 / UK 10 (12/14) 16
Materials:
650 (700) 700 g yarn (60% cotton, 40% silk, 160 m/50 g / approx. 175 yds/50 g). Needles 3 mm (US 2.5), 7 buttons.

Ribbing Pattern: alternately 1 knit stitch, 1 purl stitch.
Stockinette Stitch: right-side rows knit stitches, wrong-side rows purl stitches.
Reverse Stockinette Stitch: right-side rows purl stitches, wrong-side rows knit stitches.
Cable Pattern (over 6 stitches):
Rows 1–4 and 6–8: Stockinette Stitch;
Row 5: cross 6 stitches to the left (= slip 3 stitches to a cable needle and hold behind the work, knit 3, then knit the stitches from the cable needle).
Repeat Rows 1–8 throughout.
Lace Panel (over 2 stitches):
Row 1: knit 2 stitches together, yarn over;
Rows 2 and 4: purl all stitches and yarn overs;
Row 3: yarn over, slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 1, pass the slipped stitch over.
Repeat these 4 rows throughout.
Diamond Pattern 1 (over 42 stitches):
Work according to chart 1, which shows only right-side rows.
On wrong-side rows, work stitches as they appear, purl the yarn overs.
Work Rows 29–58 once, then repeat Rows 3–58 throughout.
Diamond Pattern 2 (over 38 stitches):
Work according to chart 2, which shows only right-side rows.
On wrong-side rows, work stitches as they appear, purl the yarn overs.
Repeat Rows 1–56 throughout.

Stitch distribution pattern sequence 1: * 18 (22) 26 stitches in Stockinette Stitch, (6 stitches Cable Pattern + 6 stitches Reverse Stockinette Stitch + 2 stitches Lace Panel + 6 stitches Reverse Stockinette Stitch) 3 times **; end from ** to *.
Stitch distribution pattern sequence 2: * 18 (22) 26 stitches in Reverse Stockinette Stitch, 6 stitches Cable Pattern, 6 stitches Reverse Stockinette Stitch, 2 stitches Lace Panel, 38 stitches Diamond Pattern 2, 2 stitches Lace Panel, 6 stitches Reverse Stockinette Stitch **, end from ** to *.

Pattern sequence 1: 58 rows as for stitch distribution pattern sequence 1, finish as for stitch distribution pattern sequence 2.
Pattern sequence 2: * 1 stitch Reverse Stockinette Stitch, 2 stitches Lace Panel, 6 stitches Reverse Stockinette Stitch, 6 stitches Cable Pattern **, 42 stitches Diamond Pattern 1, end from ** to *.

Gauge, pattern sequence: 28 stitches and 39 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in).

Back:
Cast on 158 (166) 174 stitches and work 3 cm (1.2 in) in Ribbing Pattern.
Then continue in pattern sequence 1.
After 73 cm (28.7 in) from the cast-on, bind off the middle 30 stitches for the neckline and finish both sides separately.
For rounding, bind off from the inner edge on every 2nd row 3 times 4 stitches.
After 75 cm (29.5 in) from the cast-on, bind off the remaining shoulder stitches.
Left Front:
Cast on 80 (84) 88 stitches and work 3 cm (1.2 in) in Ribbing Pattern.
Then continue in pattern sequence 1, working the stitch distribution up to **.
Then continue as for stitch distribution.
After 61 cm (24 in) from the cast-on, bind off 28 stitches at the left edge for the neckline.
Bind off the remaining shoulder stitches at the same height as the back.
Right Front: work symmetrically.
Sleeves:
Cast on 74 stitches and work 3 cm (1.2 in) in Ribbing Pattern.
Then continue in pattern sequence 2.
For sleeve shaping, increase on both sides every 4th row 40 (40) 38 times 1 stitch, then every 2nd row 2 (2) 6 times 1 stitch in Reverse Stockinette Stitch = 158 (158) 162 stitches.
After 46.5 cm (18.3 in) from the cast-on, bind off all stitches.

Finishing:
Sew shoulder seams.
Pick up 191 stitches along the neckline, work 3 cm (1.2 in) in Ribbing Pattern and bind off all stitches, at the same time at both front corners on every 2nd row work 3 stitches together as a slip-slip-pass-over decrease (= slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit the next 2 stitches together, pass the slipped stitch over).
Then pick up 129 stitches along the vertical edges of the fronts and the short sides of the band and work 3 cm (1.2 in) in Ribbing Pattern, then bind off all stitches.
At the same time on the right band after 1.5 cm (0.6 in) make 7 buttonholes (= bind off 2 stitches and cast them on again in the next row).
Work the first buttonhole approx. 1.5 cm (0.6 in) from the lower edge, the last approx. 1.5 cm (0.6 in) from the start of the neckline, distribute the others evenly between.
Sew side seams and sleeve seams. Set in sleeves.
Sew on buttons.