Lace and Cables Cardi

It can be hard to find summer knitting patterns for cardigans. This Lace and Cables Cardi is a great place to start, especially if you're a fan of the classic look. The loose sleeves allow for great air circulation, so you won't find yourself sweating in this cardigan. We're also a huge fan of how cables mingle with lace in this pattern, a technique you don't normally see. Though it looks beautiful in deep blue, try knitting it in a pale green or yellow color for a more springy and summery look.

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size6 or 4 mm, 8 or 5 mm, Circular Knitting Needles

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Gauge1 stitches, 2 rows, 3 inches. stockinette stitch

Materials:

RED HEART® "Eco-Ways®" 3518 Peacock: 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) balls*
Knitting Needles: 4mm [US 6] and 5mm [US 8].
Circular Knitting Needles: 5mm [US 8] 29” long.
Stitch holders (2)
Yarn needle
4 3/4" diameter buttons (model shown JHB).

*NOTE: RED HEART® "Eco-Ways® has been discontinued. For similar yarns, yarnsub recommends:

Red Heart Team Spirit: 4 (5, 6, 7, 7) balls

Measurements:

Finished Bust: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)".

Finished Length: 22 (22 1/2, 23, 23 1/2, 24)".

Abbreviations:

mm = millimeters

p = purl

St st = stockinette stitch

st(s) = stitch(es)

tog = together

yo = yarn over

[ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified

* or ** = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated

Gauge: 18 sts = 4”; 24 rows = 4” in St st with larger needles. 20 sts = 4”; 24 rows = 4” in Lace pattern with larger needles. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.

Notes:

Cardigan is worked back and forth in rows. Circular needles are used to accommodate large number of stitches. Cardigan body is worked in one piece to the armholes, then divided to complete fronts and back separately.

Work all decreases 1 st in from edge.

Special Abbreviation:

Ssk = Slip next 2 sts knitwise, one at a time, to right needle; insert point of left needle into the fronts of these sts and knit them together from this position.

Lace Pattern:

Row 1 (Right Side): * P2, k6; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, p2.

Row 2 and all wrong side rows: K2, * p6, k2; repeat from * to end of row.

Row 3: * P2, yo, k2, ssk, k2; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, p2.

Row 5: * P2, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k1; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, p2.

Row 7: * P2, k2, yo, k2, ssk; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, p2.

Row 9: Repeat Row 1.

Row 11: * P2, k2, k2tog, k2, yo; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, p2.

Row 13: * P2, k1, k2tog, k2, yo, k1; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, p2.

Row 15: * P2, k2tog, k2, yo, k2; repeat from * across to last 2 sts, p2.

Repeats Rows 1 – 16 for Lace Pattern.

Instructions

BODY

With circular knitting needles, cast on 196 (212, 236, 252, 276) sts. Knit 3 rows in Garter st.

Next Row (Right Side): K1, work Row 1 of Lace pattern over next 194 (210, 234, 250, 274) sts, k1.

Keeping first and last st in St st for selvedge, work in Lace pattern until piece measures 10½” from beginning, end by working a wrong side row.

Next Row: Begin with a knit row, change to St st and dec 32 (32, 36, 36, 40) sts evenly across–164 (180, 200, 216, 236) sts. Continue in St st until piece measures 13½” from beginning, end by working a wrong side row.

Divide for Front and Back

K36 (38, 42, 45, 48) sts for Right Front, bind off next 10 (14, 16, 18, 22) sts for armhole, knit until there are 72 (76, 84, 90, 96) sts on right needle after bind off for Back, bind off next 10 (14, 16, 18, 22) sts, knit remaining 36 (38, 42, 45, 48) sts for Left Front.

Next Row (Wrong Side): P36 (38, 42, 45, 48) sts, place next 72 (76, 84, 90, 96) sts for Back, and 36 (38, 42, 45, 48) sts for Right Front on separate holders. Continue on remaining 36 (38, 42, 45, 48) sts for Left Front.

Left Front

Shape Armhole

Continue to shape armhole by dec 1 st at beginning of next 5 (6, 8, 9, 10) right side rows–31 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts. Work even until armhole measures 3½ (4, 4½, 5, 5½)”, end by working a right side row.

Shape Neck

Bind off 5 (5, 6, 6, 8) sts at beginning of next row for neck edge. Continue to bind off at neck edge 2 sts 2 times, then dec 1 st at neck edge every wrong side row 6 (6, 6, 7, 6) times - 16 (17, 18, 19, 20) sts. Work even until armhole measures 7½ (8, 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2)", end by working a wrong side row.

Shape Shoulder

Bind off 5 (6, 6, 6, 7) sts at shoulder edge twice, then bind off remaining 6 (5, 6, 7, 6) sts.

Right Front

Slip sts for Right Front from holder to needle and join yarn to wrong side. Continue to shape armhole by dec 1 st at armhole edge every wrong side row 5 (6, 8, 9, 10) times - 31 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts. Work even until armhole measures 3 1/2 (4, 4 1/2, 5, 5 1/2)", end by working a wrong side row.

Shape Neck

Bind off 5 (5, 6, 6, 8) sts at beginning of next row for neck edge. Continue to bind off at neck edge 2 sts 2 times, then dec 1 st at neck edge every right side row 6 (6, 6, 7, 6) times–16 (17, 18, 19, 20) sts. Work even until armhole measures same as for Left Front to shoulder edge, end by working a right side row. Shape shoulder same as for Left Front.

Back

With wrong side facing, rejoin yarn to 72 (76, 84, 90, 96) sts for Back. Continue to shape armholes by dec 1 st at each edge every knit row 5 (6, 8, 9, 10) times – 62 (64, 68, 72, 76) sts. Work even until armholes measure 7 1/2 (8, 8 1/2, 9, 91/2)", end purl row.

Shape shoulders: Bind off 5 (6, 6,6, 7) sts at beginning of next 4 rows, then 6 (5, 6, 7, 6) sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Bind off remaining 30 (30, 32, 34, 36) sts.

Sleeves

With larger knitting needles, cast on 82 (82, 90, 98, 106) sts. Knit 3 rows in Garter st.

Next Row (Right Side): Begin with Row 1, work even in Lace pattern until piece measures 5 1/2" from beginning, end by working a right side row.

Begin St st with a purl row and shape sleeve by dec 1 st at beginning and end of every other row 2 (0, 0, 2, 6) times, every 4th row 9 (6, 9, 8, 6) times, then every 6th row 0 (2, 0, 0, 0) - 60 (66, 72, 78, 82) sts. Work even until piece measures 12 1/2 “ from beginning, end by working a wrong side row.

Shape Cap

Bind off 5 (7, 8, 9, 11) sts at beginning of next 2 rows - 50 (52, 56, 60, 60) sts. Dec one st at beginning and end of every other row 13 (14, 14, 17, 13) times, then every 4th row 0 (0, 1, 0, 3) times–24 (24, 26, 26, 28) sts. Bind off 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. Bind off remaining 16 (16, 18, 18, 20) sts.

FINISHING

Sew shoulders seams. Set in sleeves. Sew sleeve seams.

Button Band

With smaller needles and right side facing, beginning at left neck edge, pick up and k72 (76, 80, 84, 88) sts evenly along left front edge. Knit 3 rows in Garter st. Bind off loosely.

Buttonhole Band

Mark positions for 4 buttons evenly spaced along right front edge, the first 1/2" from bottom edge, the last 1/2" from neck edge. With smaller needles and right side facing, beginning at cast on edge, pick up and k72 (76, 80, 84, 88) sts evenly along right front edge. Knit 1 row.

Next Row: [Knit to marker, yo, k2tog] 4 times, knit to end.

Knit 1 row. Bind off loosely.

Neck Edging

With smaller needles and right side facing, pick up and knit 92 (92, 96, 98, 104) sts evenly around neck edge including tops of front bands. Bind off all sts purlwise. Sew buttons opposite button holes. Weave in ends.

Lace and Cables Cardi Sleeve Diagram